BRACANI@aol.com wrote:
I’m a white male casual in the port of L. A. / L. B. I find it hard to sympathize wth your plight at the moment. I feel like I am paying for those in the past. Can you say reverse discrimination? Can you say Johnny Howard?Look it up! Come and see this casual hall! Free money and hours towards elevation for anyone who is not white. Please respond and tell me the error in my thinking!! From my point of view you are more than equal!!
I feel your pain! However I reject your philosophy.
I am a black casual at LA/LB casual hall and I am affected also by the J. H. court decision. I am penalized because I past the TABE test. All those who past the TABE test are penalized whether their black, white, brown, purple or yellow. The J. H. court decision was a grave injustice to many people. But we also have to look at the history of the waterfront to understand why such a decision was rendered by the court.
The truth is discrimination in the work place is a reality. Most of the time discrimination is directed at minorities, particularly blacks and hispanics. The waterfront is no exception to that reality. The history of the waterfront blinded the courts ability to discern the truth in the J. H. case.
The truth is the TABE test is not discriminatory!!! If you graduated from middle school, you took the TABE test. You had to take it again to graduate from High School. If you did not past, it is a reflection of your education, not your race. J. H. used his race like a coward to gain entry into the waterfront because he knows the history of the waterfront.
I have a degree from USC. My brother has a degree from Long Beach State. My sister has a degree from Long Beach State. My younger sister is in Medical School at San Diego State. All of us have past the TABE test and all of us have graduated from college. If it wasn’t for my education I would be really upset about the J. H. decision. However I am not because my education enables me to have my own business. You see, I am not solely dependent on the casual hall to pay my mortgage or keep my daughters in private school.
That old saying that“shit happens” is true. The trick is being prepared when it happens. The best way to stay prepared is to have an education. J. H. was not prepared to fail that TABE test, so he turn to litigation. He used race as the main theme in his litigation process. But the fact is he failed the test, not his race. So don’t judge all black discrimination cases by the J. H. case. The problems those minorities are having with the waterfront in Oregon could be real. I don’t really know because I don’t have all the facts. My advice to you is get the facts before you judge.
Peace and Prosperity
