"Employers who would be happy to hire a preppy Cosby kid might worry that people with "black names" are more likely to use ghetto slang, dress in gangster fashion styles, or cop a tough or sassy attitude on the job. Is this racism? Maybe not."

Uh, in my mind, this is the very definition of racism. You're judging an individual using preconceived notions about that person's race. The fact that Bill Cosby has criticized the black community on the same terms means squat. I know plenty of minorities who would sell themselves out through racial stereotypes for personal gain or acceptance among whites (though I don't think that may be a fair characterization of Cosby). I'm not saying minority groups should not engage in honest self-criticism directed inwards towards their own communities. But such criticism by no means "excuses" others from applying such prejudices to individual members of those groups.

you're nuts buddy. this has absolutely nothing to do with racism. It has everything to do with common sense. Im not hiring a white guy covered in tatoos anymore then I am hiring a black girl covered in piercings, for the exact same reason. My customers discriminate, and it's their money they're spending at my business.

this isn't about racism. Neither is it of prejudism. if you want to look, and talk like a freak? that's your business, and you have the right to go risk your time and money working your own business. the world doesn't owe you a living. and the first employee to address any of my customers as dude, bro, or ho, will be terminated on the spot.

How can you fire someone who you say without any hesitation that you wouldn't hire in the first place? Tattoos can be covered up and piercings can be removed. You think they will mistreat your customers so why even bother hiring them. Or even if they give a good interview (by removing the piercings and covering the tattoos), you still wouldn't hire them from fear of offending your customers. The fact that you equate disrespectful behavior with appearance is exactly what prejudice is.

The statement wasn't about appearances but about names. Names on resumes. Since when does a kid have control over his or her name? Should kids be forced to change their names because their parents choose a name that people call "ghetto"? How is that not prejudice?

pigbodine

If I were reviewing a series of resumes I would be more interested in the facts (i.e. grades, experience, goals) style (how well put together the resume is, spelling, etc.) than an applicant's name. If all things are equal and one applicant's name is Omar bin Ladin, I might just have to pass on him - unfortunate, but an unpleasant fact.

If the name is one of the tortured African extractions, I cannot blame that on the applicant. Presumably they had little to do with that choice. In face-to-face interviews we look for people who are at ease in conversation, use acceptable business English, dress in conventional, casual business attire and present a positive image that would make a client comfortable and at ease. People who represent the firm in a positive manner.

That candidate may be white or some other hue. However, I have found very few clients who were bigoted enough to be uncomfortable with a competent black, Asian or other employee. The key is cultural and professional competence for the job.

In fact the only time we had a problem with bias on the job was when a client asked that we put another staff member on his engagement. Turns out the staff assigned to him was a very attractive young woman and the client’s spouse was uncomfortable…The staff member left and became a model where her natural beauty was as asset instead of a potential problem.

blueshift and gambit:

Gambit started off pretty good, until "...I know plenty of minorities who would sell themselves out through racial stereotypes for personal gain or acceptance among whites..."

Sorry, you wanna be ghetto-fabulous, do it on you own dime. I'm with CMD, who actually owns a business. There will be no hos or gangstas in my office, pants will be worn above the buttocks and not below, and acceptable business/medical English will be spoken. What education is needed to know the purpose of a belt? And BTW, my practice employs a broad spectum of skin shades not for the "diversity", but for the competency expected of them by me, my partners and my patients. Some even have tatoos that are discretely covered during work hours, but none look like they work at LA Ink. There are no stretched earlobes which, BTW, is a white-guy phenomenon. If you think a split tongue, your boyfriend's name tatooed around your neck and wearing "colors" are great ideas (did I get all the races?), I question your judgement, and you won't be working for me.

DvB

I think you all have entirely missed the point of this article, which I might add is the point of this article. Racism is short for racial prejudice. Prejudice is not inherently good or bad meaning that your prejudices can lead you to like things or dislike things (or people) based on irrational preconceived emotions. That is inherently bad because it inhibits you from making educated decisions based on reality. Then again reality can only be contemplated through the prism of personal perception, so....

What I really wanted to say is that Cosby has a cultural prejudice, not a racial one. The difficulty here is in understanding the distinction between "blacks" and what he calls "black culture". There are some who would shudder at such a distinction, but how better can one try to describe a sub-culture (and there certainly is one) which self-identifies with its race, adopts its own combination of slang, dresses in a way that while not unique, is still distinctive, and has a noticeably distinct pool of given names? I mean, sure, greater care could be used to more accurately delineate the boundaries of Cosby's "Black Culture", but at what point do we begin to split hairs who's dissection serves little purpose other than make those doing the dissection feel less guilt over their own lack of political correctness.

And that's my two cents.

GMG BBC

I missed the point of your post; other

Racial bigotry, bias, racism and prejudice, are synonyms for ignorance. When one allows such emotional reactions to rule decision-making it limits one’s ability to succeed and fully participate in all that society offers. It is often reduced to fear – “I can’t go into that neighborhood, that city, that country. It’s too dangerous” In many cases it is. Is that…one of those synonyms?

Not hiring someone who doesn’t fit your firm’s image, doesn’t speak the language of your business or its clients, doesn’t dress in the manner of your business or your clients may be a sign of some prejudice or it may be a sign of a business person who fears the impact on his or her business. Yet again, it may result from knowing one’s clients and their tastes and desires, no?

There is a saying in many professional businesses: If you want to be a partner, dress like a partner, talk like a partner and conduct yourself like partner. On the other hand if you want to dress, talk and act like a burger flipper, you will not be a partner; but the choice is yours to make.

than you think we missed the point of the article...

Dok,

I'm fine with what you've just posted overall. However, if you look at the OP's quote its pretty clearly a different phenomenon. Having problems with various unprofessional appearances and behaviors is perfectly justified. Expecting those appearances and behaviors because of a "ghetto" name is not.

CMD either didn't read carefully and went off half-cocked or endorsed a blatant example of racism.