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Originally Posted by knight_shadow
Both of you have valid points.
I still think the "black folks will work for less" argument isn't going to fly, though, especially in 2010.
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It is flying like a hawk in 2010. Absolute and relative deprivation have increased drastically in the past 20 years. Meaning, the actual and perceived gap between the haves and have nots is greater than it has ever been in this country. Blacks are disproportionately have nots. There goes that hawk again.
Quote:
Originally Posted by knight_shadow
Also, I don't think that a lot of non-whites* are going to put up with a racist employer (subtle or not). Maybe I'm headstrong about it because "my circle" wouldn't, but even when I've come in contact with folks that aren't in my circle and who are in lower-paying jobs, the sentiment has been the same**.
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People express all kinds of sentiments that they won't back up in their actions. People like to talk shit to/with those who don't have the power to punish them. In reality, nonwhites put up with racist employers everyday.
Like you said, your folks represent a small cross section. My family, friends, and I all have MBAs, J.Ds., and PhDs. I would never use my personal experiences with myself, my friends and family for such a discussion because we represent a tiny percentage of the Black population. Our education and professional networks are able to buffer some of the effects of racism and discrimination. Only some.
However, even some of my family and friends have had points in their lives where they had to tolerate racially charged bullshit from white people in order to achieve a goal. That includes those who were hosed as college students in the 1960s and those who had to use white people's business networks in the 1990s and 2000s.
Even still, we don't represent the majority of Blacks who don't have much to fall back on. They can't say "fuck you, I didn't go to law school for this shit." Guess where being obviously pissed off at a racist employer lands you? The unemployment line. Awesome and guess what most of these people hear in the unemployment line? "You should've counted your blessings, taken the paycheck, and just ignored the racist motherfucker."**
**A successful EEOC claim is rare even for the companies that provide that option