The Big Conversation on race should continue as some employers discriminate against black workers, according to researchers who investigated Bermuda's racial divide.Columbia University scientists concluded Government should also introduce more pragmatic policies to level the playing field, in their follow-up study to the Mincy Report.Ronald Mincy, Monique Keyser and Eva Haldane interviewed wall-sitters and high school students and analysed previous reports to find out why blacks earn less than whites in every industry on the Island.They concluded major factors are discrimination in the workforce, and self-imposed barriers such as young blacks' views on their own capabilities and the way blacks present themselves in the workplace.“Why were Bermuda's young black men over-represented in low-paying industries and under-represented in high-paying industries?” they wrote in their report.“Our research concluded that there were at least three possible explanations: discrimination by employers, occupational segregation by workers and employers, and differences in the distribution of soft skills across racial groups in the Island's workforce.“Some employers do discriminate against black workers. Some employers prefer women in certain roles and some employees, especially men, avoid traditional ‘female' jobs.“Some workers, especially young males, lack the habits of dress, speech and deportment that make customers and co-workers feel comfortable in the workplace.”The report continues: “We conclude that results point to pragmatic policymaking.”It recommends:l create job opportunities for disconnected and unemployed youths by promoting collaboration among schools, Government, youth organisations and the business community;l address discrimination in industries employing few young black Bermudian males through training programmes targeting those youths;l give black Bermudian males soft skills training so they can interact with customers and co-workers according to workplace norms;l improve black males' education performance by encouraging families to devote more time to helping their sons articulate their goals;l continue “candid public conversations” about race using a variety of media and forums, including additional Citizens Uprooting Racism in Bermuda reports.The Big Conversation, launched by former Premier Ewart Brown at the start of his tenure in 2006, featured public forums and was described by some as the beginning of the racial healing process; but criticised by others as a political manoeuvre aiming to cast whites in a bad light.Since taking over from Dr Brown in October last year, Premier Paula Cox has said she wants conversations to continue with business leaders, but with the “shouting” removed.The team said during their interviews many young blacks were not even aware the dice is loaded against them, saying they did not perceive racism as a serious obstacle to pursuing a professional career.However, the researchers pointed out numerous surveys have revealed large racial disparities in unemployment, earnings and educational attainment.Researchers also referred to ‘occupational segregation', which sees large numbers of blacks and whites take up different careers.“Occupational segregation by race and gender could be driven by choices young people make for themselves, but they could also be the result of choices made by employers including a preference for women over men for administrative jobs,” states the report.It states parents and youth groups need to do more to encourage black males to believe they can become professionals instead of simply working with their hands.The report includes comments from black high school students including one boy who said: “I find carpentry interesting because I'm still hands-on and I'm making stuff. So just like with the IT, you're hands-on, putting stuff together, taking it apart and building different things.”Another said: “Well, I just started the motor mechanics class, and that's pretty interesting, because my grandpa owns a garage, but this class has actually given me more insight of how things work and stuff. Before it was just like me doing it because my grandpa asked me to. But now I'm getting more of an understanding.”One boy said he had considered the corporate sector but his mom convinced him to pursue engineering.“Well she always wants me to do something that I'm gonna like,” he said.“When I used to tell her I wanted to go into the business field, she really didn't think that was for me and I think she was right there. She always like encouraged me to go into … the mechanical area, but I always you know thinking of money first. Yeah it's Bermuda, I wanted to get a job in one of the big insurance firms there so, but like she kinda help me out in making up that decision that uh, that something more hands-on was right for me.”Researchers conclude: “Bermuda's parents generally, and her youth-serving organisations especially, can send a more useful message to males that working with one's hands and postsecondary schooling are not mutually exclusive. Even surgeons work with their hands.“Programmes that expose black male youths to high-wage jobs in finance and business sectors through mentoring and job-shadowing opportunities may change their perceptions about gender and work.“If done effectively, the exposure will counteract their self-imposed barriers to high-wage jobs while also combating lingering employer discrimination.”Useful websites: www.crfcfw.columbia.edu