Black whistleblowers with unwavering courage have persevered through intense intimidation, coercion, and violence in American history. Black informants faced violent retaliation for testifying about racially motivated terrorism during the Reconstruction era. Black journalists and activists were at the forefront of exposing lynchings well into the 20th century, forcing the nation to confront its history of racial violence. In the Civil Rights era, Black workers who exposed employment discrimination and police misconduct were fired and threatened. Today’s Black whistleblowers continue the legacy of exposing wrongdoing by challenging illicit activities in government, policing, and corporate America.
Despite reform, Black workers in the United States face an uphill battle in the workplace. For one thing, Black job candidates receive significantly fewer job callbacks than equally qualified white applicants. A 2017 meta-analysis found that Black job applicants still received 36% fewer callbacks compared to white applicants with no observable change since 1989. Once employed, Black workers are more likely to experience negative workplace conditions and be subjected to discrimination.
These existing barriers compound for those who choose to speak out. Whistleblowers already face immense risks for exposing wrongdoing—career destruction, financial ruin, and social ostracization are common results of employer retaliation. But for Black whistleblowers, such retaliation is often even...
In This Article: WBA +0.78% Walgreens agreed to pay the United States $300M, plus interest at a rate of 4.00% per annum accruing from October 20, 2024, of which $150M shall constitute restitutio...