Job Search: To 'Self-Identify' or Not

Image: BrandonSigma

Job searching can be stressful. Even with the latest technological advances that facilitated the process, there's no feeling like the uneasiness that comes with putting yourself out there to find work. You're putting yourself to the test, reading job descriptions, and becoming self-critical of yourself as you wonder if you're over-qualified or under-qualified.
 
Aside from credentials, experience, or education, another factor people may worry about in applying for a job is their race and ethnic background. I occasionally hear or read interesting job hunt stories from close friends and others, and this is something I think about, but not something I have much experience in.
 
Discrimination is a common practice in the employment industry and even with laws against it, it occurs all the time. It usually has negative effects on marginalized people, specifically those of color. Every year I'm sure thousands of discrimination lawsuits are filed, and a majority of those lawsuits are typically filed by people who are, or have worked at the place of employment. But what about discrimination before getting a job? The tricky thing about discrimination in the job application process, is that you are not aware if someone is discriminating against you. I mean how would you know when so many factors are up to the plate?
 
You may think you're perfectly qualified for a job position, but the recruiter may not think so. And what is the reason why? And one can't say candidates aren't judged by their appearance or how they look, because why else is 'dress professionally' a commonplace stance for in-office interviews?
 
Perhaps that is why I'm hesitant when it comes to self-identifying myself on applications.
 
A few months ago came across an job opening that I wanted to apply for. I clicked the link and was directed to the company's website. I scanned the entire webpage before I entering any information and glanced at the job description again, and saw the details of the application as I scrolled. It was your typical job application page, then I got to the very bottom, and I saw not one, but two questions about self-identification.
 
So upon uploading, entering, and submitting information for the job position, it asks the applicant to voluntarily include their gender, ethnicity, and race. Keyword: voluntary.
 
I thought nothing of it until I wondered how much does this information really matter? I know that self-identification can be used for statistical purposes, and is even used to prevent discrimination, specifically against minorities. Still, I'm not so naive that this need to know an applicants self-identification isn't used to also prevent certain applicants. It reminded me a job interview I once had. The interview was a phone one and the process went great. The recruiter was very interested in my skills and blah blah, and asked me to come into the office for a more formal interview. I accepted and went.
 
Now I'm a very observant person, so when I got there I took note of my surroundings particularly the people there—I noticed something (explained below).
 
Long story short, the face-to-face interview went well and I never heard back from the recruiter or the company. It wasn't until a good month later after reading an article about job discrimination contributing to unemployment did I wonder....hey, it's possible. I will never know for sure, and in no way would I say my race or ethnicity was the reason why I never got a callback, but the likelihood lingers. Out of all the interviews I've ever went to, that was the first time I even had the thought. Whose to say the recruiter didn't think I was qualified for particular reasons? Is it possible I was judged by other things? This is an answer to a question one can never know, and I'll never know why I didn't get the job.
 
I mentioned previously, that in my observations I noticed something—it was the employees. Many of them looked the same; a good percentage of them shared the same gender, race, and so it seemed—religion. I fit neither three. It's possible the recruiter thought I just would not have fit in with the crowd.
 
Self-identify? Let them know who you are by your most easily identifiable physical descriptors, or don't tell them at all? I'm indifferent.
 
Everyday I'm reminded of the stereotypes and misconceptions that plague my race. I get the microagressive reminders from everyday people like doctors, store clerks, random strangers, or co-workers. So when I send in an application detailing who I am from my gender to my race, who is to say a preconceived notion isn't signaling an unfavorable assumption in that recruiters head? I'm not blind to what is out there. Just type black + women on any search engine and see what comes up, or is suggested for that matter. Do you really know if they're taking your self-identification information into account for positive reasons or negatives ones? One can wonder.

Haitian Music Responds to FDA's blood ban

Today is the 23rd anniversary of the day that thousands of Haitians and Americans alike, stormed the Brooklyn Bridge headed to NYC's City Hall to protest the FDA's discriminatory banning of Haitian blood donors.

I wrote about this last year.

Left out from that post, was a few of the Haitian responses to the blood ban. The 80's and 90's were great era's for conscious Haitian music, and a lot of Haitian musicians used their voices and influence to reach, educate, and protest issues the diaspora faced.

When the FDA (and CDC) decided that Haitian blood was high-risk, a few songs were released to challenge the blatant prejudice. Many Haitians responded with organizing protests, and some musicians responded with music—not just reaching Haitian's living in the U.S., but to the entire Haitian diaspora and francophone communities. Though a lot of the songs were sung in Kreyol, the message in these songs were powerful.

One of the most popular response songs was by Yole and Ansy Derose, a husband and wife duo, that released the song "FDA Ou Anraje." The word anraje (French: enrage), means mad or rabid—which perfectly described the shameful blood ban. The song title loosely meant, 'are you out of your mind.'

Here's the music video to the popular song:

In the song, the Deroses' question why the FDA would impose such an outrageous and baseless ban. They also talked about how this was a slap in the face to Haitians considering the history of Haitians contributing to the U.S. and American history.

Here are some lyrics:

Si nou gen SIDA, se ou ban nou SIDA
If we have AIDS, you gave us AIDS

They continue:

FDA apa ou anraje. FDA apa ou deraye.
FDA are you mad!? FDA are you out of your mind!?

The Derose's also brought up the U.S. foreign policy in Haiti and how that contributed to Haiti's poverty. They did not shy away from exposing American hypocrisy, and it's expressed clearly in the beginning of the song. Several strong accusations are made and they somewhat allude that AIDS is man-made disease, and the blood ban ruling is racist, which would explain why the FDA felt so comfortable blaming Haitians.


Another song was from a mini-jazz group called Djet-X—the song is titled '20 Avril (Pon an Souke)'. It means April 20th (The Bridge Shook). It was written in the aftermath of the protests, but summarized the events and feelings of that day in one song.

An interesting fact about this song is the sub-title (Pon an Souke). This would be something my father would repeat to me whenever he told me the story about that day. He was present at the demonstration, and one of the resounding echos in the crowd, was "nou souke pon an", or we shook the bridge. My father recalled the bridge shaking as people crossed the bridge to enter Manhattan. The protest attracted more demonstrators than expected, and they shut down the Brooklyn bridge that afternoon. This is a New York Times article reporting on the event.

 
In the song they summarize the Haitian response on April 20th, naming important figures, like radio jockeys, community organizers, and popular Haitian activists, like Wilson Desir. 

Some lyrics:

M'ap pral kapital youn jou espesyal, pou'm ka di koman'm feel, paske'm pa na ranse vre.
I'm going to the capital on a special day, so I can say how I feel, because truthfully I'm not kidding around.

They speak directly to the FDA:

FDA papa, sa se l'injustice, se pa nou fe SIDA.
FDA man, this is an injustice, we didn't create AIDS.

Throughout the song they also say in English no blood, no sweat. Interpreted as, if Haitian blood is not worthy, well neither is the sweat of Haitians who've worked hard in the U.S.

Read more about the ban here.