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The Conversation
Martin Abel, Assistant Professor of Economics, Bowdoin College

Biases against Black-sounding first names can lead to discrimination in hiring, especially when employers make decisions in a hurry − new research

What role will race play in determining who gets the job? Cecilie_Arcurs/E+ via Getty Image

Because names are among the first things you learn about someone, they can influence first impressions.

That this is particularly true for names associated with Black people came to light in 2004 with the release of a study that found employers seeing identical resumes were 50% more likely to call back an applicant with stereotypical white names like Emily or Greg versus applicants with names like Jamal or Lakisha.

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