There has always been a certain status quo when it comes to getting hired in today's society. Many people don't realize that there can be many qualities that come from someone who is different from the "norm." With the rapidly growing workforce there is a demand for acceptance that can no longer be avoided. America has become the melting pot of the world, but there is still a lot of resistance against people who don't look like the average worker. In this article I will analyze the different barriers faced by the “marginalized” and how companies should address these situations. Discrimination against people because of their color has always been recognized in the workforce and has been addressed accordingly by law. It was once the most well-known form of discrimination within the workforce. Today, most companies have started claiming to adhere to the law of equal employment opportunity for all, but saying that is completely different from actually practicing what they preach. For example, there is an ethnic group that companies began discriminating against after the 9/11 attack on the Twin Towers. Muslims were cast by many as the bad guys, so they were treated as such. There was a case where Ali Aboubaker, 56, was bullied and discriminated against at work because of his religion, race and, most importantly, appearance. He kept a long, unkempt beard, resembling that worn by Afghan men. The company seemed to forget that Ali had four degrees and seemed to only pay attention to his physical behavior. Sometimes it was even noted that his colleagues called him a terrorist in front of his manager, and they were never reprimanded for this. Because of its appearance... middle of paper... not to mention manpower. People don't know how to accept “outcasts” into their normal daily lives, which makes it difficult for many people to be accepted at work. While there has been an increase in tolerance and innovation, it's not every day that a company becomes accepting of everything and everyone. There are even companies that use their religious beliefs as a way to discriminate against birth control (Hobby Lobby), which goes to show how unforgiving the world can be. Those who are "different" will always be a threat, and there will always be those who will try to crush them instead of trying to understand them. I recognize that discrimination will never cease to exist, but I hope that the playing field for the “marginalized” continues to shift towards a more positive landscape. Everyone deserves equality in this melting pot we call America, the land of the free.