"Many years ago, I bought went to a grocery store and a young black male in a suit bagged my groceries. I asked him why he was wearing a suit ... and he said that his mother had emphasized that he needed to look professional at all times. He was well spoken, and sounded intelligent. I found out he was an engineering student, with good grades, working as a bagger to help pay his way through college. As far as I was concerned, white or black or brown, he had qualities that I thought would be valuable wherever he went. So ...
The next day, I brought him an application to go to work at the Aerospace company where I worked. I pointed out that if he was hired, they would pay for his tuition in engineering, he would gain experience in engineering (which would help his academic work), and he might even get a pay raise. And it appeared that my company would gain a valuable employee.
Long story short -- he submitted the application for an engineering aid job, was hired, graduated as an Engineer, and began a success-filled engineering career at the company.
Was he "acting white"??
Was it racist of me to select him for my attention? Because I admit that if that same person had bagged my groceries wearing baggy pants, jewelry, sporting corn-rows, and speaking ebonics ... I don't think I would have recognized his potential and wouldn't have made the effort to help him (and my company).
Each person selects his clothing and demeaner to project a specific set of qualities to the outside world. One should not then complain if they are judged based on those qualities."
IMO, this bears repeating, over and over.
Glad you're getting back on topic here. It is certainly true what you say about selecting your cloting and demeamor "project a certain set of outside qualities to the world."
However, the the focus of the article appears to be the difficulty various minorities that are ALREADY executives and professional are having ADVANCING their careers, and their perceptions as to why. I think it's plenty clear the article is not talking about entry level personnel or even middle management. I doubt the problem is "baggy pants", and "speaking ebonics" Although, though corn-rolls and jewelry are mentioned I assume they are talking about women.