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A Master Class in Countering Racism at Work
Cheryl Grace sues Nielsen, alleging discrimination
Cheryl Grace has worked at Nielsen Holdings for 16 years and is currently senior vice president of U.S. strategic community alliances and consumer engagement. But she says that she’s long been passed over for promotions because of racial discrimination. Now she’s suing Nielsen for discrimination. Mitch Dudek writes in the Chicago Sun-Times:
In a June 3 letter to Nielsen CEO David Kenny, she explained African American women at the company were not being promoted, leaving them without hope. She said African American people are “labeled as negative, troublemakers, combative or self-aggrandizing” when they try to point out the discrepancy and how it could damage the company’s reputation.
Grace is one of many high-level Black executives nationwide who encounter racism and racist microaggressions at work. Her case is particularly interesting because Nielsen measures audience sentiment and market share — including African American cultural trends. Grace is the face of the company’s annual Annual Black Consumer Report.
