Abstract:
Griffin Todd details how his experiences working a contracting job repairing concrete sidewalks at East Carolina University reflect the racial bias in public projects. Todd and other black contractors cite a culture of racism in the construction industry which is often played out through complex contract negotiations. This prevents authorities from stepping in and taking action. Todd and others discuss how larger contractors who hire their smaller firms often target them to make up for lost costs and how the state’s university system should better monitor the big firms who are taking advantage of them.