Newspapers / The Carolinian (Raleigh, N.C.) / May 23, 1991, edition 1 / Page 3
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NEW RIGHTS LEGISLATION—“America's Black Forum Imt Julian Bond leads discussion an civil rights with Democratic D.C. Delegate Eleanor Holmes Norton; Michael Bareody, Natlaoial Assadatlan at Manufacturers; Wade Henderson, NAACP DX. bureau chief; and Stave 6utow, National Jewish Democratic Council. (Photo by D. Fields) NEA VIEWPOINT a Non-white ‘group-norming’ is unfair By William A. Rusher One of life’s grimmest little shocks is the discovery, from time to time, of some stunt the government is pulling that you never heard of before. Thanks to The New Republic, I have just found out about a new out rage, which I predict is going to cre ate plenty of waves when the general public learns of it. It is called “group norming,” or “race-norming.” It transpires that the Public Em ployment Service, an agency of the Department of Labor that recom mends qualified job applicants (most ly for blue-collar and clerical posi tions) to private employers on request, has been cooking the figures on its aptitude tests to favor black and Hispanic applicants over whites. The practice began during the Carter ad ministration, and has been going on ever since*1 It’s done this way. People who reg ister with PES for job opportunities are given an aptitude test. The theory is that an employer can request a pro spective employee who scores in (say) the top 25 percent on the test. What white job applicants don’t know, how ever, is that their performance on the test is compared only to that of other whites. It is well established that if Hispanics and blacks were included in the comparison, the average scores of the blacks would be substantially low er, and those of the Hispanics some what lower, than those of the whites. So Hispanic and black scores are compared only with those of other Hispanics and blacks, respectively. Thus a white Job applicant whose test results put in him the top 40 per cent of white applicants would be giv en a rating of 60, while a black appli cant whose actual score was substantially lower might neverthe less rank in the top 25 percent of black applicants, and would accord ingly be given a rating of 75. The black appucant would be referred to the prospective employer. PES excuses this built-in bias (when the subject is raised at all, which is rarely) by asserting that apti tude tests are “culturally biased” in favor of whites, and hence the ratings of blacks and Hispanics must be ad justed — upward. But this is non sense. Asian job applicants do very well on the tests. This tilting of the pinball machine is so common nowadays that a num ber of private businesses skew their own aptitude test results the same way. And last year the Equal Employ ment Opportunity Commission (“equal opportunity”!) was on the verge of suing private corporations that didn’t follow the same practice. Cooler heads have since prevailed at EEOC. The cream of the jest is, of course, that the great bulk of the American people simply don’t know that this is going on, and that as a result white job applicants are being routinely side lined in favor of blacks and Hispanics with lower test scores. No doubt about it, this is a hot issue. And there are, moreover, two sides to We Just Want A Chance! TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — American minorities just want an opportunity to develop and make a contribution to the country, says the chairman of the U. S. Commission on Civil Rights. Arthur A. Fletcher, who spoke last Friday at a national symposium on race relations, education equity and civil rights, said minorities contribute billions to the economy, but don’t own much of the nation’s wealth. “When we insist that we want to participate, we're not asking for welfare. We’re not asking for food stamps. We’re asking to participate in the society that we pay our tax dollars to,” Fletcher said. “If that’s discrimination in reverse, so be it. If that’s preferential treatment, find me some more.” Fletcher said he was criticized recently for saying America is a racist country. He received numerous telephone calls after articles appeared in newspapers across the country. Some of his black friends told him they were tired of hearing about racism. “I’m tired of hearing it too,” Fletcher told them. “I’m tired of experiencing it, and I sure don’t want my great-granddaughter to.” The civil rights battle isn't about giving preferential treatment to blacks, Hispanics or women, but about keeping the country afloat, he said. "It is about national security,” Fletcher said. ”it is about whether we are going to stand a fighting chance.” Fletcher, who said he is charged with being the nation’s conscience, demanded candidates running for office in 1992 cease “race baiting” and find another way to win elections. “I'm tired of campaign strategies and tactics that will divide us,” he said. 2717 Glcnwood Avuno* Raleigh, N.C. 787*7020 SIS1USMDU Reader, Healer And Advisor Raleigh’s Most Accurate Physic And Spiritualist HmMi • Happiness • lava • Uk a Merriape • IwsiMse • Reunites The iifwtid • Taiet Caidleedlaf Friends, we urge you to see this religious holy person. God’s minuet who heals the sick A ailing A removes all suffering A bad luck from your body. And tells you who to keep away front. She shows you with your own eyes how she removes sorrow, sickness, pain A bad luck. What your eyes see your heart will be convinced that A bad luck. What your eyes see your heart will believe A then this is m. The tout ' to heal b; i you a “ have bad luck? Bring your problems to her today A be rid of them you has God given power to heal her home. Ate is the holy religious her hand will healj by prayer. suffering? Sick? Do you need help? Do you i‘ve been looking for. The touch of her hand will I Everyone’s we£»me tomorrow. In this area for the first time. She reunites the i A solemnly swears to heal the sick A help all who come'to her A remove all evil spells. PSYCHIC MM IIHOT CUD KUNNB! <10 KUHN It: If whites take all the decent jobs, what shall America say to its Hispan ics and blacks? The Democrats are scared to death of the subject, dependent as they are on black and Hispanic votes. The Re publicans have been shy about taking the side of the whites, lest they be ac cused of racism. But Sen. Alan Simp son and Re&. Henry Hyde (both Re publicans) have now introduced bills to stop the practice of “group-norm ing," and the fit is in the fire. My own guest is that group-norm ing will not survive. America’s whites are prepared to help ‘less advan taged* individuals, but not at the price of surrendering jobs they them selves need and for which aptitude tests establish that they are substan tially better qualified. If America's elite, in both parties, can’t Understand that viewpoint and accommodate it, are are paving the way for politicians who will make Da vid Duke look like Little Lord Fauntleroy. 9 Ml NEWSPAPER ENTERPRISE ASSN THE CONSERVATIVE ADVOCATE WILLIAM A. RUSHER MIST BEHA V1N Playful moods. The two of you. And Imported Canadian Mist. Mixed, straight or on the rocks. Its smooth, light taste' is always on its best behavior. i m p o r I e d m: C ANADIAN MIST I At CP&L, we’re proud of our hearing. That’s because listening to your needs helps us to help you save money. Take our 6% Home Energy-Efficiency Loan. Recently, it was expanded to include new types of insulation, double-pane windows and energy-efficient electric water heaters to name just a few. While the ban amount was raised to $1500. And the repayment period extended to 5 years. It’s just what the doctor better yet, it’s just what our customers ordered. Then there’s our low-interest heat pump loan. It works like this: the higher the energy-efficiency rating on your heat pump,the lower the interest. It could be as little as 6%. How’s that for common sense? Call your local CP&L office for a list of qualified heat pump dealers near you. Or to find out more about our other money-saving and energy-saving programs. vte’ll bet the person who answers the phone will hear you loud and clear. Cfl&L Where Generates
The Carolinian (Raleigh, N.C.)
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May 23, 1991, edition 1
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