Also known simply as racism, racial discrimination is a practice that has presented itself as issue historically in the United States. Racial discrimination consists of unlawful actions where a person receives different treatment, usually of a negative nature, that is based on their race. In general, the terms racial and discrimination in this context refers to minorities, but it can also work conversely, affecting the majority race. Racial discrimination may occur in a range of environments, including employment, housing, education, and lending. Common forms of discrimination that occur in these settings include denying employment, preventing a person from being promoted, refusing housing, failing to provide lending, or other racial harassment. Under federal laws such as the Civil Rights Act, these type of racial discrimination actions are prohibited and may even result in legal penalties. When circumstances of racial discrimination arise, the victim can consult with either an employer or other protection agencies, who can provide legal help to reach a resolution. In some cases, the guilty party may need to pay damages to the racial discrimination victim.