Quote:
Originally Posted by tomegun
First I want to say that I know several officials who post here, to include Brad, personally and I would hope they all know race is not something that keeps me from treating anyone fairly. Now on to my point.
Do the people on this board realize that blacks have historically been kept out of certain positions because it was perceived we weren't smart enough? Management positions, coaches, quarterbacks, etc. At one time black teams weren't supposed to be smart enough to defeat a white team. I say that to ask again, do you really think none of this prejudice impacts officiating?
In addition to the perceived notion that we aren't smart enough, there is the issue of the good old boy network that is D1 assigners. I know there are several D1 assigners who are black, but there are still those who aren't and could have a long history of hatred.
This discussion shouldn't be a lecture, but it shouldn't be so easily blown off either. The race card exists and we need to ask ourselves why. I'm also wondering if those who blow this off would blow it off so easily if we were talking gender.
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Tom, I don't want to come across as blowing this off. I'm definitely not doing that.
I'm well aware of the racism that haunts our history and our present. While it's not nearly as pervasive as it used to be, nor is it considered at all acceptable in any circles I've been in; I know it's still there.
I doubt whether there are currently people in power who don't think blacks are smart enough for the jobs you mention. Well, that may not be true. I doubt there are a significant amount. While one is too many, the unfortunate fact is that racists are not generally cured. They die off.
Racism is slowly (too slowly) dying because the children and grandchildren of racists are interacting with children of other races. They are playing, working, and fighting along side each other.
Maybe part of my problem is I'm too analytical. I'm trying to analyze a problem that is essentially one of the human condition. If blacks are being supressed in the officiating ranks, it seems to me there would be statistical evidence to back it up. The problem is figuring out a few things to determine whether this is true.
First of all, what's the break down of the officiating population as a whole? Does the break down of NCAA tourney refs represent that?
Maybe that's not the proper comparison. Maybe we should compare it to players; but I don't think so.
I suppose the best way would be to find the racial breakdown of the personality types that are most likely to officiate and compare that to another impossible number; the breakdown of officials everywhere at all levels.
I realize this issue is extremely complex, and attempting to break it down into numbers can come across as insulting. That's not my intent.