Mr. Ricci did well, he said, coming in sixth among the 77 candidates who took the exam. But the city threw out the test, because none of the 19 African-American firefighters who took it qualified for promotion. That decision prompted Mr. Ricci and 17 other white firefighters, including one Hispanic, to sue the city, alleging racial discrimination.
Their case, which will be argued before the Supreme Court on April 22, is the Roberts court’s first major confrontation with claims of racial discrimination in employment and will require the justices to choose between conflicting conceptions of the government’s role in ensuring fair treatment regardless of race.
Unless there is something shown that indicates that the test contained material that a Black person is unable to learn, study for or comprehend, I believe the city is in err. You don't toss out the results of an exam because black folk don't pass the test (or score high enough). You do look to see why. What is particularly disturbing is that Ricci:
who is dyslexic, paid an acquaintance more than $1,000 to read textbooks onto audiotapes. He made flashcards, took practice tests, worked with a study group and participated in mock interviews.
If he did all that, then the question is, and the reporter should have asked is, what did the black test takers do? It is highly relevant. Did they know that practice tests were available? Why or why not? Did the black test takers do mock interviews (the only part that I could think is subjective, but I don't know the contents of the interview or the written test).
We're not buying the race-neutral talk of the National Police Organization, but we're also not going to support throwing out people's hard work either. I also reject the position of the Black Professional Fire Fighters, Young people have the RIGHT to have fully qualified professional firefighters respond to emergencies in their neighborhood. The city ought to be doing all it can to promote the most qualified members. That includes everybody. And black people who want to get promoted need to do what my uncle has been doing in the MTA. Getting up in the AM and studying. Going to classes if available. Coming home in the evening and studying. and then kick tail at the test. Follow up here
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