“With four sergeant slots available, the chief can look at five candidates for each job. Of the 36 eligible, the highest African-American ranked 22nd. The other two were ranked 30th and 32nd.
“For one lieutenant spot, the highest-ranking black officer was fifth.”
If it’s based entirely on merit (it may not be, I know nothing about that department), and you promote solely on that basis, then where’s the complaint?
“You should inform the mayor that we need an independent, outside investigation of the Police Department,” a man told Tomalin. “They don’t have the best intention of African-Americans.”
Cry wolf too often (everything is racism!), and one day I’ll stop believing you, even if that does turn out to be the case.
“These promotions will not happen.”
Is that fair to those who were going to be promoted? Can they sue for loss of wages, seniority, etc., caused by racism?
According to the chart at the site, about 1/8 of the whites hold higher rank (sgt. and above); and 1/4 of the blacks hold higher rank; and only 1 out of 37 latino officers holds higher rank.
Maybe their first job (if race is what counts) is to promote a few more latino officers—and decrease the percentage of black officers?
Justification for discrimination and racism.
Very simple. How is "merit" determined?
If by reviews from superiors, then it's not objective.
If by grades on standardized tests, then it's not "fair" if there is disproportionate impact on minorities.
Simple answer: There is no conceivable way of determining merit that would satisfy those who expect proportionate results.
In actual fact, black officers promoted in proportion to their representation in the department wouldn't satisfy them. Only a moratorium on white promotions till the upper ranks are representative of the force, or possibly of the community.
Which is, of course, utterly unfair to those individual white officers denied promotion simply because of their race.