Originally Posted by
atpwannabe
And you would have to ask yourself...why is this? I'll tell you why. We, (African-Americans/ Black folk), were systematically denied ACCESS to the basic pursuits of (economic, educational, social, & judicial) equality. We were denied by white people....primarily by the white male 100% of time. For example, the 15th Amendment gave me the right to vote. Why do we need the Voting Rights Act of 1964? If we enforce the Voting Rights Act then that means that the 15th Amendment isn't worth the paper it's written on. Think about it!
Look at homogeneous races. They don't have this problem and if they do, the magnitude of its affect is minimal at best. Just think, if this country would have resolved its race issue at the start of the 20th century...can you imagine where we would be as a nation today? If that was the case, then this discussion (thread) would be about nepotism, etc.
atp
We are all aware of the injustices done in the past. The fact is I don't think anyone would have a problem given the same qualifications that a white male would be passed over in favor of a minority/woman. I personally have issues with standards being lowered sometimes dramatically to meet what amounts to a quota in order to get to that magic number or percentage a company wants. My cousin was caught up in that UAL hiring in the late 80s he wasn't given an interview either and he had graduated from the USCG academy and was a C-130 commander flying search and rescue in Alaska but UAL did hire a woman with 350 hrs with no turbine time. My cousin went on to Alaska Airlines but it is not only aviation where this occurs. I had a close friend when I was in college who wanted to get on with the Phoenix Fire Dept..He had a fire degree and was near the top in the physical agility tests he tried for 3 years in a row and was continually passed over for hispanic candidates who scored much lower. I don't know about you but if a woman can't haul a 90 pound dummy out of a burning building I don't want her being a fireman or a state trooper who can't make even 70 on the written exam. Think it doesn't happen? Think Again! I don't like discrimination on any level. Qualifications are there for a reason if you meet them fine if you don't you don't need to be there. Funny thing is that I am friends with a black pilot ex navy who is more then qualified and he actually hates affirmative action he says people look at him sometimes and wonder if he "earned" his spot at a major.