Everyone is white?

[eacue]

I am posting this because I need some feedback. I work at a SW Florida hospital and well just like the title says, everyone is white lol. The entire executive team, all the board members, and to be honest, in a department with over 50 employees, I am the only minority. The hospital has this website where staff can post questions to upper management and then they post an answer. I am tempted to ask why the disparity however to be honest I am afraid that I will be terminated if I do so. Has anyone else experienced this kind of discrimination and if so did you speak up about it? Please don't ask me what hospital or what department as I have to be anonymous for fear of retribution.

[WestCoastSunRN, MSN, CNS]

52 minutes ago, LibraSunCNM said:

And south Florida is definitely NOT a racially homogenous area, that's for sure.

Yes, one of things I love about Florida, BUT.... the east and west coasts do have different demographics. I don't think what the OP is seeing is discrimination, but I do think it *could* be a bad sign. I totally understand wanting to see diversity in a system and it's leadership. I'd want the same thing.

[Snatchedwig, BSN, CNA, LPN, RN]

Well are you feeling discriminated?

[Daisy4RN]

I would not post that question to upper management. In my experience no good will come from that. They usually have those types of things for show only so they can say something like "our employees have access", or "we listen to our employees" etc.

If you are having a specific discrimination issue I would file a complaint with HR. Other than that, as with most complaints, you will just be labeled a trouble maker and make it harder on yourself, IMO.

[brownbook]

2 hours ago, beekee said:

Ok, discrimination need not be overt to exist. If there are over 50 white employees and only one POC, chances are this isn’t an environment that’s accepting of POC. Being the only anything (woman, POC, LBGQT+, etc) is hard and uncomfortable.

Sure, there are some areas of the US where this might be the norm because POC don’t live there. But as the OP, mentioned a pretty large corporation, it seems suspicious that the OP is the only POC.

i have no words of wisdom for the OP, but I do get it. I wish you the best! (I wouldn’t ask the question in an open forum, FYI. I’ve been vocal in the past and people don’t like being told they are racists so it ends poorly for me, you know, the troublemaker).

If you're trying to teach, educate, enlighten, change a person's way of seeing things, etc. calling them a racist is not the way to go about it.

Outside of that I appreciate your post.

[AbstracRN, BSN, CNA, RN]

I live in Florida and worked at a 503c healthcare organization, where there were no black people in upper management. Despite the fear mongering that goes on in our country, 73% of our country is still majority white. And some people get upset because that includes Hispanics/Latinos, but Spain is in Europe. So you can meet alot of Hispanics/Latinos with a high percentage of European ancestry not to mention it shows in their phenotype. Back to my old job it was super racist and with very few black nurses. I am wary of companies that don't even have a floor supervisor of another race. Because I doubt their aren't other races with the education or experience applying. But racism is insidious and people don't want to talk about it but it is often reflected in every day life( like your job). Even with the Asian nurses as someone mentioned, alot of them have told me horror stories about prejudice and discrimination they have experienced. I got a right to sue from the EEOC regarding my old job. People that have privilege, won't understand your post because they have never dealt with the macro and micro-aggresions people of color experience due to racism,prejudice and discrimination.

[Jayce]

wow. Ok so who discriminated against you? Did someone threaten you? If that’s the case then you really should get a lawyer to help you. But making large statements about how your board of directors is possibly racist, because they appear white, on social media is pretty...unwise. I’m Hispanic and I actually believe America is one of the least racist countries in the world! Yes, America is far from perfect and needs help in many ways. Please remember that there were 360,000 white men who sacrificed their lives because they believed slavery was wrong! and they were republicans... There are racist people out there. Don’t be one of them. Who knows maybe if you show yourself to be a hard worker, industrious, self motivated and enthusiastic, those old white guys will give you a nice raise?

[K9lover, ASN, RN]

What are the demographics of the city, is it all white? I have lived in Southern California all of my life and everywhere I have worked; restaurants, motel maid et al and any/all workplaces. have been very diverse workplace, with colleagues up to any/all management, but the general population is diverse in Florida isn't it?

[K9lover, ASN, RN]

You do not indicate much behind the hospital demographics of the hospital, are these thoughts based upon any actions against you or is the thread based upon anything? I have worked in many areas wherein I was the only white person and never given thought to it.

[K9lover, ASN, RN]

What was the discrimination? All you mention is that upper management is all white.

[BSN-to-MSN, ADN, BSN, RN]

Once, I was the only white person on a bus, and I was ok with it. Just saying.

[Hoosier_RN, MSN]

I've worked in a couple of settings where I was the only white person. Never felt like I was treated any different, I was expected to work just like anyone else

[blr3, BSN, RN]

What discrimination? Were you hired?