Harry Harrison's "The Velvet Glove" (novelette, free)

An out of job robot, in society where robots can live as legally independent individuals but as second class citizens with humans hating them, earns admiration & work - because of bravery forced by circumstances.

Fact sheet.

First published: Fantastic Universe, November 1956.
Rating: B.
Download full text from Project Gutenberg or Manybooks. Or download MP3 from The Time Traveler Show. [PG link via QuasarDragon; MP3 link via SFFAudio which also has more details of podcast]
Related: Stories of Harry Harrison.