Does race matter? The determinants and consequences of self-reports of discrimination victimization

Few empirical investigations have explored the determinants of discrimination. Even more rare are studies that explicitly link reports of discrimination to harmful consequences. This article investigates the determinants and consequences of self-reports of discrimination victimization. It addresses how likely different kinds of people are to say that they have been the victims of discrimination. After estimating who is likely to report being victimized by discrimination, the article presents estimates of the relationship of self-reports of discrimination victimization to the earnings of different social groups. Results indicate that African Americans, Latinos, and immigrants report being victimized more frequently than whites with rates that exceed twice the national average. For African Americans, the "cost" of felt discrimination exceeds $6,200; for Latinos, the "cost" exceeds $11,300. Such findings suggest that reports of discrimination are not just the product of the imaginations of overly sensitive, race-conscious, victim-minded individuals. Rather, these reports appear to represent real experience that negatively and demonstrably impact the quality of their lives.