ABC News 20/20 Report: White and Black Names

[Munchkin03]

There's a little-known book called Freakonomics that came out last year with an entire chapter devoted to this topic! Apparently, women more likely to saddle kids with certain names tend to be young, unmarried, non-college degree holders, poor, and they usually have a name like that themselves! Imagine that!

I probably wouldn't name my child any of those names, but I probably wouldn't name my kid any of those redneck stripper names that some Southerners hold so dear either.

[Jimmy Choo]

Originally Posted by Munchkin03

There's a little-known book called Freakonomics that came out last year with an entire chapter devoted to this topic! Apparently, women more likely to saddle kids with certain names tend to be young, unmarried, non-college degree holders, poor, and they usually have a name like that themselves! Imagine that!

I probably wouldn't name my child any of those names, but I probably wouldn't name my kid any of those redneck stripper names that some Southerners hold so dear either.

I read that book!!! It was very eye-opening!

[shinerbock]

Otter, I'm not sure what you're saying. If they're equal applicants, and the both speak well, present themselves well, etc...I have no idea who I'd choose. Probably whoever went to a college I don't hate.

[OtterXO]

Originally Posted by shinerbock

Otter, I'm not sure what you're saying. If they're equal applicants, and the both speak well, present themselves well, etc...I have no idea who I'd choose. Probably whoever went to a college I don't hate.

I was trying to flush out what you were saying. You said that in your family experience you found that the well qualified minorities don't present themselves well. So I asked if you were presented with two equally qualified applicants (just the resumes) would you assume that the "Brad/Larry/etc" would present better than the equally qualified minority?

ETA: I was just curious. People's thought processes are interesting, especially in that situation. My boyfriend regularly receives resumes from people whose names he can't pronounce. (Often east indian people since he works in IT) They receive the same consideration as other applicants. The only problem would be if there's a severe language barrier.

[shinerbock]

What I was saying about my family was that some Atlanta minorities, despite being well educated and intelligent, don't see anything wrong with continuing to act and dress along the lines of popular black culture..thus my father has come across several qualified applicants who he simply can't hire because they don't come across in a professional way. That being said, he has several black employees who are very intelligent and professional.

[Taualumna]

Originally Posted by shinerbock

What I was saying about my family was that some Atlanta minorities, despite being well educated and intelligent, don't see anything wrong with continuing to act and dress along the lines of popular black culture..thus my father has come across several qualified applicants who he simply can't hire because they don't come across in a professional way. That being said, he has several black employees who are very intelligent and professional.

I see plenty of white kids dressed like homeys too. I have seen prep school kids of all races butcher their school uniforms as soon as they're off campus when classes end for the day.

[DSTCHAOS]

Originally Posted by Taualumna

I see plenty of white kids dressed like homeys too.

Yeah because they are victims of Eminem and the MTV generation.

But when they decide to finally listen to their parents' or guardians' advice and clean up, people will forget all about their former dresscode and call it a "passing phase on the way to success." Whereas there are millions of people in this country who are frowned upon whether they are wearing a tailormade suit or baggy jeans. Whether their names are Shaquana or Stephanie.

How many more things can we add to the list of discriminatory factors that will disproportionately impact minority groups? That's also what this topic is about.

[TonyB06]

Originally Posted by shinerbock

Otter, I'm not sure what you're saying. If they're equal applicants, and the both speak well, present themselves well, etc...I have no idea who I'd choose. Probably whoever went to a college I don't hate.

SB,
I haven't seen any of your subsequent responses mention the "comfort level" you initially alleged was so critically important to clients. I looked for your answer to my hypothetical to offer some justification for what you'd said earlier, a showing that the "comfort level" would overcome the "name" issue as a reason for hiring the lesser qualified but "better-named" candidate.

Interestingly enough, you talked about requirements, (loosely) skill sets, all the things that are important. No judgements here, but it seems as though your rhetoric and and your reason were on different tracks.