Roger’s Rules

By Roger Kimball

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ajbuckle
2007-11-20 10:42:25

“Have you ever lost a job because a white candidate…”

Yes. Everybody, at some point in their career, has lost a job to a more qualified candidate or a candidate that is abetter fit. That is a normal part of working life. But that is different from what you are alleging. You are alleging that race was a factor. If you can prove that you lost the job or condo because of race, you can potentially win a large legal settlement. The company faces not only that financial loss, but also the social stigma that comes from such a lawsuit and/or Al Sharpton and Jesse Jackson picketing their front door.

Nearly every white college applicant in the US has faced losing admission to their choice of schools and losing jobs to a less qualified blacks because of affirmative action. Being able to prove that the recipients of AA are less qualified and being judged on their race is not hard because it is the very point of affirmative action. But there is no recourse. No lawsuits, no million dollar settlement, no Jesse or Al picketing.

The race based unfairness that you are deriding is inherent in the very system that you are trying to defend.