A White Hot Blaze of Discrimination

This is an important week for justice. The Supreme Court is hearing a case in which 18 firefighters claim that they were discriminated against. Here’s what happened: In 2003, the city of New Haven, CT issued a test for all firefighters seeking promotions. When the results came back, all of the top scores were held by white or Hispanic men, with no African-Americans scoring high enough to warrant a promotion. Horrified by that objective test results would display this lack of political correctness, officials tossed out all the test results as invalid.

From what I understand, all the questions on the test were practical, situational problems relating to firefighting. It is difficult to imagine a way in which such questions could be racially biased. I will not speculate as to the reasons for the differences in test scores, but it appears that, in this situation, this particular group of African-Americans were not as qualified for the promotions as those who scored highest.

So now, these highly skilled individuals are suing, and I sure hope they win. It is appalling that in a profession where the slightest error can mean a fiery death we are passing over the best and the brightest because of the color of their skin. Appalling! The fact that these men have been fighting this decision for six years speaks volumes about both their tenacity and the injustice of the system. But I’m sure those poor souls burning to death appreciate the ethnic diversity of the firemen failing to save them.

By the way, I have to take a moment to address a term many are using to describe this lawsuit: reverse racism. I honestly cannot believe how stupid this phrase is. It’s even worse than “overseas contingency operation.” There’s no such thing as “reverse racism”, there is only “racism.” The word “reverse” implies that racism against whites is somehow not “real” racism. Last time I checked, Caucasians are just as much of a race as Asians, Africans or Latinos. Minorities do not have a monopoly on discrimination and I’m tired of the implication that whites cannot be victims of unfair treatment based on their race.

This case will have wide reaching implications, whatever the outcome. If the plaintiffs win, it will set a precedent that will essentially end affirmative action. I have always found affirmative action and other such laws insulting, because they imply that minorities can’t succeed without the government stepping in to help. Racism in the real world (as opposed to government enforced racism) is far less common than the Al Sharptons of the world would have us believe. The issue has such public awareness that any business engaging in racist hiring practices would be quickly exposed and severely hurt by the bad press. Economically speaking, racism just isn’t good business.

However, if the defendants win this case, white parents all over the country will get to explain to their children that it doesn’t matter how hard you study or how good you are at something. Because of some bad things that happened hundreds of years ago, you will forever be punished for your color. Reparations, here we come.