A successful race discrimination claim generally requires showing that:
- You belong to a protected class.
- You were meeting your employer’s legitimate job expectations.
- You experienced an adverse employment decision, such as being fired, demoted, denied a promotion or having your pay reduced.
- The action taken against you was motivated by discriminatory intent.
To prove your employer discriminated against you based on race, you will also need evidence showing your employer’s actions were not isolated incidents. Evidence may include emails, text messages, performance reviews, disciplinary records, HR complaints or witness statements from coworkers. An experienced employment attorney can help identify key evidence, establish a pattern of discrimination, and build the strongest possible case on your behalf.