The Problem with Equal Opportunity Employment

To assume the role of ‘superior’ to any race of peoples by removing obstacles, is to thwart initiative. And ensuring their hiring based on skin tone, is an insult to their ability to achieve that goal on their own. It’s the same as telling someone that they’re too stupid or uneducated to acquire the position based on merit and intelect. Soft racism hurts all of society. chAos

It’s not often that I decide to tackle accepted truth vs. actual truth issues, but I needed to ruminate, so here goes. An accepted truth is what society over time has conjured up in order to shift individual thoughts on a topic, and continuously repeat the desired definition relentlessly; until their answer becomes the default truth on the topic. An actual truth, is what the real story is. Pushing back against accepted truths is generally painful in the realm of public opinion because one is immediately ridiculed and deemed extreme for failing to conform to the assumed logic. After all, who am I to go against settled science as it were; but here I am doing it again.

We’ve all heard the term Equal Opportunity Employment, and over time it’s become the ‘tool’ most often used when it comes to ‘leveling’ the playing field in favor of those individuals that would otherwise not gain meaningful, sustained employment. Initially it was used to force employers to not ‘shut out’ any particular race of people from their workforce through sanctioned bigotry. Noble? Perhaps; as designed. But it’s been perverted over time to simply turn the workforce into a mediocre, blended mass of minimized productivity.

College campuses across the U.S. have been offering courses in diversity for decades, but not until recently has a school actually offered white students a financial break to attract them to attend; in an effort to help with awareness relative to social justice. Now I don’t know exactly what the curriculum is, but I sense something bad at play here. It just doesn’t smell right. When you think of diversity, where does it generally apply? Mainly in businesses that require a structured labor force; manufacturing, restaurants, service industry, food service, etc.

Now ask yourself; What about sports franchises? What about wall street or the financial sector? The NBA and NFL for example seem to have a lopsided black to white ratio don’t they? As does the NBA correct? Now what about baseball? The MLB seems to have a higher quantity of Latin and Hispanic players, true or false? OK, now does that mean that we need diversity programs in our major sports franchises to more ‘equitably’ distribute the available team positions? Do you think the players in those sports are really concerned with diversity?…or are they more concerned with Winning and being successful?

It seems to me that Drew Brees could care less what color person he throws the ball to as long as it’s a completed pass and moves the ball down the field toward the endzone. And I hardly think that Reggie Bush will turn down a key block on the line of scrimmage because the lineman happens to be white. It’s about winning the game, being successful, and putting fans in the stands to make your team as profitable as possible; thereby ensuring your paycheck as a player. The same should hold true in any business model; it’s about the bottom line and the success of your business in competition against the other companies in your chosen product line. Success drives any business, not the skin color of your workers. Whatever business you’re running, you want the best of the best to ensure your success…plain and simple.

When you start sacrificing quality and efficiency, for quotas and expedience…your business suffers the potential for diminished returns; thereby jeopardizing your continued viability in the marketplace. One should never get a job with a company simply based on the color of their skin, their religion, or any other factor besides their qualifications, knowledge, and effort. Anything less would be…uncivilized.

You see…When we fall into the trappings of the ‘accepted’ truth laid before us, we short change ourselves and our productivity; thus stifling our dependence on ourselves for our own survival and upkeep. But when we embrace the ‘actual’ truth, we have a much better chance of success…and we just might meet some really cool people along the way that are just as motivated; no matter their skin color. Food for Thought.

chAos

Founder, C4coalition.com