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Questions and Answers About Civil Rights in Alabama

What is discrimination?

Title VI was enacted as part of the landmark Civil Rights Act of 1964. It prohibits discrimination on the basis of race, color, and national origin in programs and activities receiving federal financial assistance. As President John F. Kennedy said in 1963:

"Simple justice requires that public funds, to which all taxpayers of all races [colors, and national origins] contribute, not be spent in any fashion which encourages, entrenches, subsidizes or results in racial [color or national origin] discrimination."

Under Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), and the Age Discrimination in Employment Act (ADEA), it is illegal to discriminate in any aspect of employment, including:

  • hiring and firing
  • compensation, assignment, or classification of employees
  • transfer, promotion, layoff, or recall
  • job advertisements
  • recruitment
  • testing
  • use of company facilities
  • training and apprenticeship programs
  • fringe benefits
  • pay, retirement plans, and disability leave
  • other terms and conditions of employment

Discriminatory practices under these laws also include:

  • harassment on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, national origin, disability, or age
  • retaliation against an individual for filing a charge of discrimination, participating in an investigation, or opposing discriminatory practices
  • employment decisions based on stereotypes or assumptions about the abilities, traits, or performance of individuals of a certain sex, race, age, religion, or ethnic group, or individuals with disabilities
  • denying employment opportunities to a person because of marriage to, or association with, an individual of a particular race, religion, national origin, or an individual with a disability. Title VII also prohibits discrimination because of participation in schools or places of worship associated with a particular racial, ethnic, or religious group

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What is CRAC?

The Alabama NRCS Civil Rights Advisory Committee is composed of field, area, and state office employees and serves as in an advisory role to the State Conservationist.  The committee meets quarterly to discuss issues and review progress.  The results are posted as minutes to the Alabama NRCS home page for employees and partners.  If you have an issue to discuss or for more information on how to become involved, email Christopher Ford, the Alabama CRAC chairperson.

How can I become a Civil Rights Advisory Committee member?

Committee members are appointed by the State Conservationist.  When a vacancy occurs, current Committee members make people recommendations and those recommendations are presented to the State Conservationist, who makes the final appointments.  Recommendations are made to keep a diverse membership in grade, location, race, gender, national origin, and discipline.  If you are interested in serving on the Committee, inform a current member of the Committee.  Members rotate off every three years according to the length of time served.

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What are my civil rights roles and responsibilities?

Managers and supervisors are responsible for ensuring that the work environment is free from discrimination.  To do otherwise is not acceptable and will not be tolerated.  These officials must take prompt and appropriate action when sexual harassment is alleged.  It is important to safeguard and be sensitive to every employee’s right to work in an environment that is free of offensive misconduct.

In addition, employers are required to post notices to all employees advising them of their rights under the laws EEOC enforces and their right to be free from retaliation. Such notices must be accessible, as needed, to persons with visual or other disabilities that affect reading.

It is the policy of USDA to ensure that no person is subjected to prohibited discrimination in programs conducted by USDA or programs that receive Federal financial assistance from USDA. In programs conducted by USDA, discrimination on the bases of race, color, religion, sex, age, national origin, marital status, sexual orientation, disability, or because all or a part of an individual’s income is derived from any public assistance program. In programs that receive Federal financial assistance from USDA, discrimination on the bases of race, color, religion, sex, age, disability, or national origin is prohibited. (Not all bases apply to all programs.)

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How does management support civil rights?

The Civil Rights Advisory Committee supports the State Conservationist by evaluating civil rights issues and suggesting actions for approval.  The State Conservationist implements approved actions through the leadership team.  The CRAC and State Conservationist are concerned with the needs of clients and fellow employees.

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What employee resources are available to me?

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