Race Card Anyone - Page 12

Sam · #**111** 09-04-2010, 02:15 PM

I am a 72 year old Caucasian.

I know of racial discrimination against white people.

Some years ago when I was a foreman for a company here in the Cincinnati, OH area we needed to hire another person in our small department. I interviewed a few people but was told that I had to hire an African American.

Later, at another company, someone was going to hire a person in his department and called me to see if I was interested in the job, but then he told me that he was being pressured to hire an African American or better yet an African American female. The way he said it was, "I'll get a star if I hire an African American but two stars if I hire an African American female." This was while I was working at General Electric.

General Electric has had ups and downs. I started there in 1966 and retired in 1998. I remember how we had about 20,000 employes at one time and when I left we were down to 8,500. I remember a letter coming out at one time how the company would have to downsize and reduce employee numbers. The letter went on to say that "of course" the downsizing would have to take into consideration the proper minority mix.

Just a year or so ago someone still working at General Electric said that there is pressure to hire more GLBT's.

I have not lived with a lifetime of discrimination like some have. I can see why there is bitterness, anger, and racism in the attitude of some of those that we call minorities.

Actually, I am a minority in my city of about 20,000. African Americans outnumber Caucasians by 2 to 1.

Mr. Smith · #**112** 09-04-2010, 02:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sam

I am a 72 year old Caucasian.

I know of racial discrimination against white people.

Some years ago when I was a foreman for a company here in the Cincinnati, OH area we needed to hire another person in our small department. I interviewed a few people but was told that I had to hire an African American.

Later, at another company, someone was going to hire a person in his department and called me to see if I was interested in the job, but then he told me that he was being pressured to hire an African American or better yet an African American female. The way he said it was, "I'll get a star if I hire an African American but two stars if I hire an African American female." This was while I was working at General Electric.

General Electric has had ups and downs. I started there in 1966 and retired in 1998. I remember how we had about 20,000 employes at one time and when I left we were down to 8,500. I remember a letter coming out at one time how the company would have to downsize and reduce employee numbers. The letter went on to say that "of course" the downsizing would have to take into consideration the proper minority mix.

Just a year or so ago someone still working at General Electric said that there is pressure to hire more GLBT's.

I have not lived with a lifetime of discrimination like some have. I can see why there is bitterness, anger, and racism in the attitude of some of those that we call minorities.

Actually, I am a minority in my city of about 20,000. African Americans outnumber Caucasians by 2 to 1.

We whites suuuuuuurrrrrreee to have it tough here in America.

Sam · #**113** 09-04-2010, 02:25 PM

A friend of ours retired a few years ago from Proctor and Gamble. His name is Jim and he is African American. He used to live across the street from us but moved a few years ago to a larger and nicer house. Jim had a Ph.D. He was a chemist and taught in college in Chicago. He moved to Lexington, KY but could not get a loan on a house in a white neighborhood. Someone financed him privately and he even had a cross burned in his yard.

When he moved to Cincinnati he applied for a job at Proctor and Gamble. He had to start out as a lab tech. At his retirement, an official from P&G admitted that he was way over qualified as a lab tech but that was the only job he could get at P&G because of his race. After the affirmative action thing happened Jim advanced pretty high but not just because of race. I've been in his home and I've seen the patent certificates on his wall. Jim was active in minority recruitment for P&G. We were at his 50th wedding anniversary celebration and several African Americans talked about Jim and how he worked with them, letting them know what programs were available for minorities, and encouraging them to go on to school and into a profession. One dentist said that he would probably still be in "the projects" if it wasn't for Jim.

Jim and his wife have three children --two sons and a daughter. Both sons are college graduates, one from MIT. I remember his wife telling about the job offers one of her sons (I don't remember which one) got after he graduated. She said that he knew that some were just because he's African American but he did get to choose a good job.

Sam · #**114** 09-04-2010, 02:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mr. Smith

We whites suuuuuuurrrrrreee to have it tough here in America.

No, I don't think we do.
For years white males have had the pre-eminence here.
That really hasn't been right.
I'm just not happy about some of the ways that have been used to correct that bad situation.

Mr. Smith · #**115** 09-04-2010, 02:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sam

A friend of ours retired a few years ago from Proctor and Gamble. His name is Jim and he is African American. He used to live across the street from us but moved a few years ago to a larger and nicer house. Jim had a Ph.D. He was a chemist and taught in college in Chicago. He moved to Lexington, KY but could not get a loan on a house in a white neighborhood. Someone financed him privately and he even had a cross burned in his yard.

When he moved to Cincinnati he applied for a job at Proctor and Gamble. He had to start out as a lab tech. At his retirement, an official from P&G admitted that he was way over qualified as a lab tech but that was the only job he could get at P&G because of his race. After the affirmative action thing happened Jim advanced pretty high but not just because of race. I've been in his home and I've seen the patent certificates on his wall. Jim was active in minority recruitment for P&G. We were at his 50th wedding anniversary celebration and several African Americans talked about Jim and how he worked with them, letting them know what programs were available for minorities, and encouraging them to go on to school and into a profession. One dentist said that he would probably still be in "the projects" if it wasn't for Jim.

Jim and his wife have three children --two sons and a daughter. Both sons are college graduates, one from MIT. I remember his wife telling about the job offers one of her sons (I don't remember which one) got after he graduated. She said that he knew that some were just because he's African American but he did get to choose a good job.

Great story!

Mr. Smith · #**116** 09-04-2010, 02:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sam

No, I don't think we do.
For years white males have had the pre-eminence here.
That really hasn't been right.
I'm just not happy about some of the ways that have been used to correct that bad situation.

I can't imagine there is a right way to fix it....it's not fixable without a heart-change. Law can't do it. Law can help but it can't repair.

Some of the solutions that have been tried aren't the best and occasionally, some in the white majority of America feel slighted. I supposed we'd have to go through a couple hundred-plus years of extreme reverse-racism before the score is evened, so I try to bring that into consideration.

Some will say, "But none of it is right" and of course, that's true. But the score is still galaxies from being even. When I, as a white man, walk into a store and have security follow me strictly because of the color of my skin, I'll more of a right to complain.

Praxeas · #**117** 09-04-2010, 03:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mr. Smith

Here is the response I often hear given to minorities who make the same complaint:

"Well, maybe your father just wasn't as good and qualified."

Except that we have institutionalized racism called "Affirmative Action", where a fully qualified white man will not even be considered for hiring because he is white and male.

Praxeas · #**118** 09-04-2010, 03:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sam

No, I don't think we do.
For years white males have had the pre-eminence here.
That really hasn't been right.
I'm just not happy about some of the ways that have been used to correct that bad situation.

Two wrongs don't make a right. IF racism is wrong, institutionalized racism against 1 race is hypocrisy

Mr. Smith · #**119** 09-04-2010, 03:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Praxeas

Except that we have institutionalized racism called "Affirmative Action", where a fully qualified white man will not even be considered for hiring because he is white and male.

Where is it institutionalized? Are you speaking of private companies or government? I suppose there may be some who would feel that what little Affirmative Action we do have is a balance to the scales (but it's really not a balance) to most places where one has no chance to be hired if they are not white.

Interestingly, though, there are a few people who rose to great prominence either partially or completely due to Affirmative Action:

1) Clarence Thomas (Supreme Court)
2) Walter E. Williams (frequent substitute for Rush Limbaugh)
3) Colin Powell (Military General)

Truthseeker · #**120** 09-04-2010, 04:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mr. Smith

By several miles, one of the most moronic posts I've seen on AFF. Great accomplishment, actually, to be that ridiculous in only five words! This mentality is part of the problem and not even close to being a part of the solution. I'd love to see you speak at one of the African-American Baptist churches I've been in community with and say things like this.

Your welcome.