" Black firefighters argue that because whites are more likely to come from families where firefighting is a legacy (for instance, one New Haven captain's father and grandfather both served as fire chief in New Haven), they are more likely to get help from a network of friends and relatives in studying for the written exam."

The firefighters with a family history of firefighting are also better prepared for the job given that they grew up with their relatives talking about firefighting experiences and childhood lessons. This experience extends past any written examination.