DEFEAT FASCISM

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This morning, our statewide newspaper ran the headline "Lawmakers to weigh end to hiring laws." In short they will prevent state agencies from considering affirmative action. It will pass without a hitch.

Some of you may say, "It's about time."

Some may say, "It's the end of the world."

I just say it's a sign of the era upon which we have embarked.

Here are couple of my memories.

The first professional job I had was in a small consulting firm head by three bosses, two not bad and one a blinking asshole. We'll call him "BA."

Our secretary quit. As we began to look, a friend told me of a young woman on the look for a job after a restructuring ended her department. She came highly recommended, and I mentioned her to my bosses. They invited her in. She was poised, erudite, highly qualified, and anxious. After the interview, BA walked into my office, frowned and said, "You didn't tell us she was a n****er."

Yeah. I did that.

As my career developed, I assisted cities in obtaining HUD grants for municipal improvements. The department began seriously requiring affirmative action efforts as a step to receive grants. I informed a local mayor of this, and the conversation went like this.

"You mean we have to put a black in charge of something?

"If you want this grant."

"We don't have anyone."

"No one at all?"

"Not a qualified black."

"You are telling me that in your entire city government there is not one black worker qualified for promotion?"

"Not unless you consider John in the Sewer Department."

"Been with the city for a while?"

"Some 15 years or so."

"Knowledgeable?"

"I guess so. We rely on him when Fred, the supervisor is ill. Fred's in bad health now and ready to retire."

One can see how it went. In more recent times, a city with an African American population of some 19 percent welcomed its first black city employee. Progress? I guess. It was when he was elected mayor.

Don't let them kid you. It's going to get worse.

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