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PurposeThis paper discusses the author's perceptions of anti-blackness, her research on "surface-level" diversity and her recommendations for faculty, administrators and allies.Design/methodology/approachThe paper is a personal account, drawn from the author's background and experiences teaching and studying diversity. It discusses research on American Blacks' unique experiences with police violence and discrimination in employment, housing, customer service, healthcare and education consistent with anti-blackness.FindingsAnti-blackness pervades Blacks' everyday experiences, including in academic institutions.Research limitations/implicationsThis paper is a viewpoint paper. Researchers should study anti-blackness, looking specifically at Blacks' organizational and societal experiences.Practical implicationsThe author provides suggestions for faculty regarding sharing their research findings, teaching about anti-blackness in diversity, human resources, organizational behavior, management and other courses along with mentoring doctoral students. Recommendations for administration to help ensure that Black faculty are hired, valued and supported are also provided.Social implicationsEfforts to identify, acknowledge and dismantle anti-blackness are critical to Blacks and are important to improving diversity, inclusion and equity in society.Originality/valueThis paper provides the author's perspective on anti-blackness, using her personal perceptions and experiences, coupled with research evidence. The author provides suggestions for faculty and administrators based on decades of research and experience in the field and being Black in an anti-black society.

PurposeJoan Acker's scholarship and activism has affected the study of equality, diversity, and inclusion in many ways. The purpose of this paper is to present an interview with Joan Acker in which she shares some of the individual and societal influences on her work.Design/methodology/approachThis article is based on an interview with Joan Acker conducted on 22 September 2006.FindingsJoan Acker's observations of and questioning of inequality began when she observed racial inequality as she grew up in the Midwestern USA in the 1940s. As she matured, Acker continued observing and questioning inequality based on race, gender, and class. As a scholar and activist, and now Professor Emeritus at the University of Oregon (USA), Acker's work continues to influence scholars and activists.Originality/valueThis article provides insights into the influences that have shaped Acker's work on gender, race, class, and inequality and should be inspiring to others working in the field.

PurposePrecarious work, characterized by low wages, unpredictable schedules and hours, physical hazards, and stressful psychosocial conditions, is a significant problem in the twenty-first century US economy. It most harshly affects women, racial/ethnic minorities, and immigrants. Caring labor jobs often involve precarious work and home health aide jobs are among the most precarious of these. With an ageing population creating high demand and a decline in the number of available workers, a societal crisis looms. The purpose of this paper is to discuss a business form that could positively impact the home care work environment.Design/methodology/approachThis paper reviews previous research to call for closer examination of worker cooperatives as a means to reduce precarious work among home health care workers.FindingsWorker cooperatives provide opportunities for economic empowerment for impoverished and marginalized workers. Cooperative Home Care Associates, a worker cooperative in the home care industry, reports better outcomes to workers than similar conventionally governed businesses.Research limitations/implicationsThis paper reviews results of a study comparing three organizational forms in the home health industry. Although there are relatively few worker cooperatives in the USA, future research should investigate this structure both where there is a low-wage labor force, and in general.Practical implicationsBetter outcomes for employees in the worker cooperative suggest that this is a viable business form for workers in precarious work environments.Social implicationsThe paper highlights the features of an organizational form that could help alleviate social ills caused by precarious work.Originality/valueThis paper considers the structure and function of a business form little studied in the management discipline. Based on their unique features and possibilities, worker cooperatives should be of interest to equality, diversity, and inclusion scholars; and to strategy, organizational behavior, and entrepreneurship scholars.

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to examine coverage of the Black Lives Matter (BLM) movement in seven US-based newspapers to determine whether the protest paradigm, "a pattern of news coverage that expresses disapproval toward protests and dissent," and other marginalizing techniques are present, and racialized.Design/methodology/approachRelevant articles published during a six-month period of 2014 near the death of Michael Brown were retrieved from the selected outlets, including theNew York Times, theLos Angeles Times, and theSt Louis Post-Dispatch. Textual and content analyses were performed.FindingsThe articles heavily followed the paradigm. An additional characteristic, blame attribution, was also identified. Language of crime, lawlessness, violence, blame for nearby acts of violence, and inflammatory quotes from bystanders and official sources were often present. There was little discussion of key issues associated with the formation of BLM.Research limitations/implicationsMainstream outlets rather than social media or alternative outlets were examined. Future research should study coverage of BLM in other outlets.Practical implicationsMeasures to avoid marginalizing protests and racialization of coverage, including increased diversity in the newsroom and monitoring for racialized language are suggested.Social implicationsRacialization of news and coverage of BLM has widespread negative consequences, such as association of Blacks with criminality that may affect their quality of life. The protest paradigm has the ability to squelch participation in social movements, which have the possibility to bring about needed social change.Originality/valueThis interdisciplinary paper highlights the important role of mainstream media and news routines in affecting the BLM movement. It uses diversity research to make recommendations for media practitioners to avoid racialization of news.

Although organizational socialization is a powerful phenomenon with numerous long lasting effects on employees, many organizations and employees weather the experience unconsciously, going through the process blindly and unaware of its powerful influences. Though studies have analyzed organizational socialization and the role of newcomers in the process, none have looked at the role of specific socialization tactics and their influence on women's careers in organization. In this paper we consider the relationship between organizational socialization methods and the advancement of women's careers in organizations. We develop and discuss a theoretical integrative framework and propositions, and conclude with implications and suggestions for future research to better explain the linkages between organizational socialization tactics and women's career advancement strategies.

PurposeThe purpose of this article is to highlight inequalities created and sustained through gendered, raced, and classed organizational processes and practices using Joan Acker's work as a lens for perceiving the mechanisms that support such practices. It aims to use home health aide work as an example of how US labor laws and court decisions create and support disadvantages for workers who are largely economically‐disadvantaged and often women of color.Design/methodology/approachThe article considers processes of inequality based on demographic characteristics and the resulting stereotyping, discrimination, and gender, race, and class inequalities.FindingsThe article finds that multiple intersecting processes of inequality exist in organizations, manifested in practices of stereotyping and discrimination for some job applicants and workers and advantageous positioning for certain others.Research limitations/implicationsFuture research should more specifically consider the effects of multiple processes of inequality on individuals' organizational experiences and the intersections of gender, race, and class (as well as other markers such as ethnicity, sexual orientation, and disability) in organizational practices.Practical implicationsManagers and human resources practitioners should be aware of the effects of processes related to the intersectionality of gender, race, and class and work to eliminate resulting stereotyping and other discriminatory organizational practices linked to these processes in their organizations.Social implicationsIdentification of processes of inequality resulting in stereotyping and discrimination may help reduce them, thus increasing opportunities for work, wages, and benefits, and reducing poverty for members of the most devalued groups.Originality/valueThis research contributes to the literature on the intersecting nature of gender, race, and class‐based inequalities and on human resources decision making in organizations.