Report: Racial Discrimination Alive And Well In Federal Government

The report provides a full accounting of C4C's work and accomplishments during 2010 of exposing and combating employment discrimination, promoting racial equality in federal employment and supporting employees who challenge workplace injustice.

During times of economic adversity that the United States has been undergoing during the past several years, civil rights and justice are most vulnerable. During the past year, as highlighted in our Annual Report, the C4C did tremendous work exposing workplace discrimination and retaliation in the Federal workplace to senior officials in the Obama Administration, Members of Congress and their staff and the news media. Furthermore, the C4C provided outreach and support to those affected by illegal activity.

Despite having an African-American serve as the President of the United States and therefore heading the Executive Branch of the Federal Government, racial discrimination and retaliation continues to be a problem that should concern all Americans. Internal workplace discrimination in the Federal government hampers its ability to provide unbiased, quality and timely service to diverse communities. Hiring, promotions and awards based on favoritism and not merit continues to impede the effectiveness of government operations and programs at every level. Additionally, employment discrimination costs taxpayers millions of dollars each year. As C4C members stressed throughout 2010 in their briefings with administration officials and congressional staff, employment discrimination is not only a civil rights issue but also an economic issue.        

In its 2009 annual report, the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission reported that complaints of racial discrimination were highest among African-Americans than any other group. This fact is all too well known among our members who have personally been adversely affected by discrimination in the Federal workplace or who have a friend or family member who has been adversely affected by such discrimination.

The C4C is a proactive non-profit civil rights organization and support network incorporated in Washington, D.C., on January 22, 2009. As a young organization, C4C members have devoted their time, talent and resources exposing and fighting racial injustice in federal employment by holding Federal agencies and managers accountable. The C4C is comprised of former and present Federal employees who have been injured or mistreated due toemployment discrimination and/or reprisal.