According to the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission:
It is unlawful to discriminate against any employee or applicant for employment because of his/her race or color in regard to hiring, termination, promotion, compensation, job training, or any other term, condition, or privilege of employment. Title VII also prohibits employment decisions based on stereotypes and assumptions about abilities, traits, or the performance of individuals of certain racial groups. Title VII prohibits both intentional discrimination and neutral job policies that disproportionately exclude minorities and that are not job related.
Equal employment opportunity cannot be denied because of marriage to or association with an individual of a different race; membership in or association with ethnic based organizations or groups; or attendance or participation in schools or places of worship generally associated with certain minority groups.
http://www.eeoc.gov/facts/fs-race.html
Because so much in the United States takes place where one works, much of the points surrounding discrimination in the US come from the work place. With a working public like the many peoples of the US, it is easy to see how much this issue means to employers. Here are some examples:
Interstate Brands, makers of Wonder Bread and other consumer foods, was sued by 15 African-American employees for refusing to hire and promote black employees. In August 2000, a jury awarded the plaintiffs $135 million. The case was voted "Verdict of the Year" by Verdicts & Settlements Magazine. http://www.wired.com/news/business/0,1367,48154,00.html
Apple Computer has been slapped with a $40 million racial discrimination lawsuit charging that the company unfairly sacked an African-American employee. Described by the plaintiff's attorney as "one the largest racial discrimination cases in U.S. history," the suit alleges the former employee was denied promotions and standard perks,...