" 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.

I don't think the original poster's point was that people who grew up in a family with a family business are automatically more qualified to work in that business than those who didn't.

Rather, I'm thinking the point was that saying, "Yeah, my co-workers more qualified, but that's because he/she had the advantage of growing up in that environment!" is a lousy objection. If they're more qualified, they're more qualified.

The top post has a very valid point and of course it all depends on how complex the profession is.

Take jazz guitar. Some of the best players had fathers that were also players. They grew up around the music, got free leasons from their dads, were around top players at a very early age, etc...

Of course this does NOT mean that one has to grow up in this type of environment to become a great player OR that one that does grow up in this environment will be a great player but only that being in that environment often does give one a leg up.

"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."

True, but adoption studies show that people do about as well as their biological peers regardless of upbringing.

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