Quote:
|
Originally Posted by jimpiano
For the record, the black population of Columbus is just under 25%.
|
Yes, I stand corrected.
That figure comes from the 2000 census- now nearly a decade out of date. The most recent figures I could find show the total "non-white" population, not the black population alone, trending upward near 40% and that may be what I was thinking of.
I guess I'd better start researching my posts like I'm writing a college thesis!
That figure aside, I still see relatively few African-American baseball officials in my area, far fewer than than are represented in the population as a whole.
What I have not seen is any evidence of a race-based agenda to dissuade minority candidates from becoming umpires. To the contrary, there have been recent recruiting efforts to add minority umpires to the ranks.
Unfortunately, that effort has involved lowering the standards of training and certification requirements. While this effort may indeed increase the number of minority umpires, I can't see it increasing the number of
competent umpires, regardless of race or gender.
(P.S. to msavakinas: I am also in the COBUA and that is the association to which I am refering.)