Racism at Work: A Critical Qualitative Investigation

ABSTRACT An area of life that is profoundly impacted by anti‐Black racism is the world of work. Black Americans face persistent barriers from hiring to wage inequality to everyday mistreatment. In response, we conducted a critical qualitative investigation to explore how racism manifests in workplaces, uncover overlooked aspects of Black Americans’ work lives, and examine their responses and resistance to racism and white supremacy within hierarchical work‐based structures. Twelve Black‐identifying participants shared their workplace experiences through in‐depth qualitative interviews. Participants’ narratives revealed racism at work as a pervasive, dehumanizing experience characterized by themes such as experiences of institutional racism, stereotypes, and isolation at work. In the face of racism, participants described drawing on social support, personal strengths, and acts of resistance to navigate their work environments. The findings of this study underscore the need for integrative, culturally responsive counseling approach, such as radical healing alongside sustained structural and policy reforms to address systemic racism to improve the working conditions and well‐being for Black workers.