Racial discrimination occurs when a person is treated less favourably, or not given the same opportunities, as others in a similar situation, because of their race, the country where they were born, their ethnic origin or their skin colour.
Discrimination is the unfair or prejudicial treatment of people and groups based on characteristics such as race, gender, age, or sexual orientation.
Discrimination, which is often the result of prejudices people hold, makes people powerless, impedes them from becoming active citizens, restricts them from developing their skills and, in many situations, from accessing work, health services, education or accommodation.
Direct evidence often involves a statement from a decision-maker that expresses a discriminatory motive. Direct evidence can also include express or admitted classifications, in which a recipient explicitly distributes benefits or burdens based on race, color, or national origin.
If you feel you have experienced illegal discrimination, you can file a complaint or report a bias incident to the Pennsylvania Human Relations Commission (PHRC). Email the PHRC or call your regional office.
Direct discrimination - treating someone with a protected characteristic less favourably than others. indirect discrimination - putting rules or arrangements in place that apply to everyone, but that put someone with a protected characteristic at an unfair disadvantage.