I hear ya Rut, I would agree that many people have been afforded and restricted from opportunities because of their race and gender. You make some GREAT points.
I would love see a more level playing field when it comes to opportunities for seeking a diverse pool of officials and not just because of statistical balancing needs or desires.
In regards to why there are not more black refs getting assignments, I can comment only on what I see here in Detroit. That is simply that there is not a lot of interest in the community to become a ref. More often than not I see a greater interest in coaching than to join the ranks of officiating. I do not believe this is due to a lack of opportunity, quite the contrary since the racial mix here is predominately black including the ranks of officials.
Perhaps the system would be best served by using a blind draw method and remove any bias, perceived or otherwise.
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"We judge ourselves by what we feel capable of doing, while others judge us by what we have already done."
Chris Z.
Detroit/SE Michigan
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