California Racial Discrimination Laws

California’s comprehensive anti-discrimination laws make it illegal to discriminate against anyone because of their race or skin color. Unfortunately, that doesn’t mean it won’t happen in workplaces, interviews, or in random life situations. Racial discrimination is still a significant problem in the United States. Thankfully, California’s legislation is making it easier to fight in some cases. Understanding California racial discrimination laws can help your case.

The legal team at The Law Office of Frank S. Clowney III knows how infuriating racial discrimination can be. We understand how important it is for our clients to feel secure, respected, and valued. Being discriminated against because of your skin color or your race can be one of the most uncomfortable and painful events of your life. If it ever happens to you, you should consider reaching out to a workplace discrimination lawyer who can help you put together a strong case.

California Racial Discrimination Laws

California has had very comprehensive and supportive anti-discrimination laws in place for quite some time, particularly the California Fair Employment and Housing Act (FEHA). This important piece of statewide legislation makes it illegal to discriminate against someone because of their skin color, race, national origin, gender identity, sexual orientation, religion, age, disability, or pregnancy. These are all considered protected classes and cannot be discriminated against.

It’s important to remember that discrimination is not strictly an issue to deal with in the workplace. It can happen anywhere, despite California’s powerful anti-discriminatory legislation.

Recent trends show that discrimination rates are slowing down in the Golden State. According to a report from the California Department of Justice, the amount of racially motivated hate crimes in the state dropped around 22% from 2022 to 2023. Anti-black bias events dropped 20.6% in that time.

Different Forms of Racial Discrimination

Racial discrimination can manifest itself in multiple ways. It’s important to always call it out and report it to people who can help, whether you are the victim yourself or a witness. This sort of discrimination occurs whenever someone treats you badly because of your race or skin color, regardless of whether or not the harasser’s assessment of your race is correct. Even if they’re wrong, it’s still harassment. Here are some examples of racial discrimination in California:

• Unequal Treatment: Discrimination happens in the workplace all the time, and it’s important to recognize that behavior as it occurs. Unequal treatment is one of the more common forms of racial discrimination in the workplace. If you have noticed that employees of one race are being favored with higher pay or more responsibility, document what you can and speak to a discrimination lawyer.
• Derogatory Remarks: Calling someone a racial slur may be considered harassment, depending on the situation. Calling someone a racial slur and then attacking them will likely be considered a hate crime. Derogatory remarks do not just include slurs. They can be offensive jokes, pointed remarks about skin color, or even a display of symbols that are considered racially offensive.
• Stereotyping: Stereotyping happens when you assume that all members of a certain racial group share the same characteristics without considering personal differences. This can look like lumping everyone who looks like a similar race or ethnicity into one group. While stereotyping isn’t illegal, it can be part of a larger pattern of discriminatory behavior.

If you are dealing with racial discrimination, you may want to consider reaching out to one of the many anti-racism support groups throughout California, including the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU), Black Emotional & Mental Health Collective, and the Marsha P. Johnson Institute.

FAQs

What Are the Discrimination Laws in California?

The discrimination laws in California are largely enforced by the California Fair Employment and Housing Act (FEHA). This statewide legislation makes it illegal for anyone to discriminate against someone because of their protected class. These classes include race, skin color, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, age, religion, pregnancy, and ancestry. If you are discriminated against, you should reach out to a lawyer and see what your options are.

How Do You Prove Discrimination in California?

In order to prove discrimination in California, you must be able to demonstrate that you belong to a protected class as defined by FEHA and that the mistreatment you suffered was a direct result of being a part of that protected class. The more evidence you have that proves your case, the easier it will be to win. This evidence can include texts, emails, surveillance footage, witness testimony, and documentation that proves discrimination.

How Can a Lawyer Help With a Discrimination Case?

There are many ways an experienced lawyer can help you with your discrimination case. They can launch an independent investigation into the incident to uncover the facts for themselves, help you gather evidence that supports your claim, and make sure nobody tries to take advantage of you or make you look like the aggressor. A lawyer’s help can be invaluable in cases like this, where proving intent is everything.

How Do You File a Racial Discrimination Complaint in California?

If you want to file a complaint of racial discrimination in California, your first step should be contacting a lawyer to learn what your options are. You can file with the state, federal government, or both. To file with the state, you must submit your complaint to the California Department of Fair Employment and Housing (DFEH). To file a federal complaint, you must submit it to the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC).

Reach Out to a Discrimination Lawyer Today

Dealing with the fallout from a racial discrimination incident can be overwhelming. It can make you feel insecure, scared, and even threatened. You want to make sure you take the right steps to protect yourself and hold the right people accountable for their actions towards you. A skilled lawyer can help you do that.

The legal team at The Law Office of Frank S. Clowney III can give you invaluable advice for a case like this and ensure that your rights are consistently protected on every level. Contact us to speak with a member of our team about your case.