Arab-Americans erased legitimate credentials to pass job screening

Evidence

A few weeks later, and with graduation looming, he started applying for a career job. And he watched his chances slowly sinking. The lack of interest was frustrating beyond belief. One night he began thinking about the whole search and about his résumé. He pulled up the document on his computer screen and stared at it for a while. Then he selected the name “Al Jazeera” and hit Delete. He started typing. Now his work experience innocuously listed a stint as a “United Nations Production Assistant/ Intern.” — Moustafa Bayoumi, How Does It Feel to Be a Problem? Being…, 775 (#expands, via linked claim)

Nine months ago everything was different. It was spring, and Omar felt he had it all locked up. He had just graduated with a bachelor’s degree in communications. He’d been popular at school and had earned a decent GPA. And, most important, he had interned with one of the most recognizable media organizations in the world, the Arabic news network Al Jazeera. After this experience he thought landing a job would be a cakewalk. But nothing has happened, and since then a question has been increasingly gnawing at him. Could it be that American media organizations won’t hire him because they find an Arab-American with Al Jazeera credentials too problematical? Rather than launching him toward the major media, Al Jazeera’s reputation might be holding him down. Omar’s spring of hope has turned into a winter of discontent. — Moustafa Bayoumi, How Does It Feel to Be a Problem? Being…, 700 (#expands, via linked claim)

Categorization

• XREF: connects to: Arab American job seekers erase Al Jazeera from résumés to avoid discrimination — Moustafa Bayoumi, How Does It Feel to Be a Problem? Being…, 775; Arabic-language media credentials could damage Arab-American careers; Some Arab-Americans change their names and pass as Latino to escape stigma. — Moustafa Bayoumi, How Does It Feel to Be a Problem? Being…, 58 (+3 more)

Broader Connections

• Arab American job seekers erase Al Jazeera from résumés to avoid discrimination #expands (0.98) — Moustafa Bayoumi, How Does It Feel to Be a Problem? Being…, 775
• Al Jazeera experience may disqualify Arab-Americans from US media jobs #expands (0.92) — Moustafa Bayoumi, How Does It Feel to Be a Problem? Being…, 700