JOB DISCRIMINATION FOR BLACKS TAKES NEW TURN

Reynoldsburg, OH (BlackNews.com) - Why was it only white men at his plant were getting promoted, wondered an African-American steelworker? Even with his spotless record and experience he was consistently passed over for white colleagues of lesser qualifications.

Ever-new requirements for promotion seemed to target him specifically, each one designed to keep him from advancement. And every time he met or exceeded the latest-imposed conditions, a newer one mysteriously appeared on the books. Could it be the company was actually thinking up ways to keep him from getting ahead?

Finally, after years of hurdling one company-imposed obstacle after another, his bosses relented--he'll be promoted as long as he agrees to a smaller paycheck and a transfer to a different plant. Frustrated and dejected, he files a discrimination lawsuit, only to find even more unfairness from the only place he could turn for redress--the courts.

This is the backdrop for Blacks Need Not Apply, Collie Brown's explosive battle to drag a backwards-thinking corporation into the era of equal rights. This no-holds-barred account traces his efforts to meet Worthington Steel's endless, shifting demands for promotion and the aftermath.

Collie shatters the wall of secrecy surrounding the "new" discrimination that's being practiced at companies big and small even today. And it asks tough questions about why government agencies shrink from their duty to protect minorities from such shameful treatment.

It took the author more than three years and $20,000 in legal fees to bring his case to trial. Collie's lawsuit revealed that the company's "good ol' boy" management team had never employed an African-American manager in the 50-year history of the Columbus, Ohio steel processing plant. Worse, Worthington Industries representatives testified that they weren't sure if they had any African-Americans managers in the whole multibillion-dollar corporation.

Even after such damning admissions, Collie notes, "The judge concluded that since no manager used racial slurs toward me, my case was unfounded." Ironically, Collie was one of two black employees with cases before the Ohio Civil Rights Commission at the same time. Not one of them was ever resolved in favor of the employee.

Tucker Carlson, the conservative talk-show host of NBC's The Situation, recently said "What bothers me is that...the civil-rights movement never ended--White racism, while it still exists, is not the force it once was." Collie Brown has another answer for Mr. Carlson.

Collie L. Brown is a former news writer and video editor for a Columbus, Ohio, TV station. He worked at Worthington Industries for 19 years. Collie received his Bachelor of Arts degree in Journalism from Ohio State University. Blacks Need Not Apply is his first book.


Blacks Need Not Apply by Collie L. Brown; ISBN: 0-9763814-0-0; $14.95: paperback; 5?½ x 8?½; 189?pages, CLAYSTONE PRESS


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I think that after reading through the whole thing, it's safe to say that the TITLE of this article pretty much says it all.

 

indeed thats mests up but sadly thats the world we live in.

 

I read this once before. It's something we all know but people swear it's nonexistent. Guess that's why there are so few posts on this thread.

 

One thing I have noticed in this country is that as along as something doesn't apply to them. Ignorance is bliss. Otherwise you might actually have to deal with the problem.

 

well, I guess it's not so much that people don't want to deal with it, it's rather that there is not really something you can say besides expressing your sympathy. Job discrimination is a difficult task to deal with just as the housing discrimination because it's hard to provide evidence - unless they tell you straight that they reject you because of your color. So what's the solution? What should /could be done against it?

 

I never said there was a simple solution. Alot of these problems are deeply rooted in American history,culture,etc. But too many Americans are ignoring the problems and just accepting the status quo. There are alot of people that believe the problem is already solved i.e. affirmative action. Or that its just not happening in a significant way or at all. How do you get people to solve a problem that most don't even think exists? First the problem has to be acknowledge and then solutions can be made with various input.

 

You made excellent points, J, however, it's not that people only believe the problem is non-exist. For the most part, they often pretend that it doesn't.

 

It appears they want everyone else to pretend and ignore it as well.

 

i cant say im surprised, Racism IS ALIVE and kicking no matter what peeps say or want