When Does Affirmative
Action End and ‘Reverse
Discrimination’ Begin?
QWhen does affirmative action end and
reverse discrimination begin? Twenty-plus
years ago, the fire department I work for was
mostly made up of white males. Since that time,
they have made great strides to correct that
problem. Our recruitment office is predominantly
minorities and women. The training academy
also has a high percentage of minorities. I believe
this helps minorities become interested in the job
and helps them through the academy. This is a
good approach.
However, are they hiring the best people for
the job? The hiring process consists of a series of
written and physical tests. Applicants used to be
graded on how well they did in each area. Now the
test is a pass/fail. The applicants who pass are all
equal. The recruitment branch can pick whomever
they want. Most minorities are frequently called
back and rushed through the process in less than
a year. If a white male gets hired, it often takes two
years. When 90 percent of the applicants are white
males and they make up less than half the current
hires, are they not being discriminated against?
This problem persists through the promotion
process as well. Promotional tests have a written
and practical portion. Everyone takes the same test and
they are numerically ranked based on their performance.
Our department skips over white males in order to promote
minorities. Is that not a form of discrimination?
AThis is an emotionally charged issue and I appreciate the respectful tone of your earnest and
forthright questions.
From a legal context, recent DiversityInc articles
have explored the subject of “reverse discrimination,”
which can be found on our web site.
However, I think your questions demand a strategic answer. If people are created equal, then it is
logical that talent is distributed equally also.
The first part of your e-mail involves a standardized test. Tests such as this favor those who are
better prepared. Preparation in public schools (and
at home) differs widely by socioeconomic group; to
be clear, there is a definite difference in preparation AND expectation in public schools that serve
Black and Latino students. Socioeconomic groups
also have different home-stability issues, nutrition,
etc. In our country, socioeconomic groups and race
are closely aligned. Bias by race is a fact of American
history. The repercussions can be measured today in
a way as simple as household wealth—for example,
Black households have one-tenth the wealth of white
households. That makes affirmative action an im-
