Poor Man's Lotto: Memoirs of a Black firefighter in America

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Permalink Reply by Derek R. on November 11, 2009 at 6:07pm

I'll check it out.

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Permalink Reply by peter w sherrill on November 11, 2009 at 6:32pm

Cool

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Permalink Reply by Kali Goddess of Destruction on November 16, 2009 at 8:25pm

Derek -

You should check this out too - The New York Times has an update that shows the other side of this story...

http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9806E7D71330F931A257...

Kali

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Permalink Reply by Loyd Dittfurth on November 11, 2009 at 7:37pm

Im not a racist! I will say that first and foremost before anyone else reads this.

I dont know how many of the proffesionals in this industry have noticed the fact that they have been passed up for a job because they ARE NOT a minority.

I tested at a paid fd about 3 years ago. There were 35 people testing for 2 positions.
(33 white 1 mexican 1 black)

Out of those 35 there were 7 certified ff & emt 5 ff only 8 emt basic only
1 ff & paramedic (that was the 1 mexican) 14 uncertified and un experienced


the written test

18 passed
7 ff & emt
3 ff
5 emt
1 ff & medic
2 uncertified & unexperienced (the black male was one of these)

the physical test

12 passed
5 ff & emt
3 ff
1 emt
1 ff & medic
2 uncertified & unexperienced (the black male was one of these)


I dont know what happened the rest of the time. But, I do know that the black male was hired over the 8 certified firefighters. The firefighter medic was hired. We all knew that was going to happen when we found out he was a ff medic. I was an uncertified and unexperienced catagory and knew I wouldnt get hired. But I was suprised that the young black male was hired over certified people because the powers that be were worried about getting sued (not his fault I accually like the guy I see him around every once and a while) because of discrimination. Like I say Im not a rasist. But I have heard about this happening with both women, blacks, and other minority groups.

So I ask how bad can it be in this new age of society?

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Permalink Reply by peter w sherrill on November 11, 2009 at 8:23pm

Well if you go to NYC it is still 99% white. And every training I used to attend for Homeland Security would be 99% white. Two things I find interesting, one is when someone says they are not racist, the other is from a radio show I was listening to and the white guy was complaining about minority contracts. Then the question was asked, what percentage of 100% do the minority contracts represent, he then responds and says 2%. So he is able to bid on 98% of the contracts. Do you know that 98% of government contracts go to whites? And then they have the unmitigated gall to get upset if that number goes down 1%. I suggest you check out this DVD/Cd by Tim Weiss, white guy talking about white privilege. Funny as hell then again not funny at all. I would be interested to know if you would read Poor Man's Lotto. And think about this, even if one token gets on, all the officers are still white! How would you feel if you were at Training Academy and you were Black and some white guys decided to make nooses out of their training ropes. I am hoping that gets investigated.
You probably don't think anything of it, however, Black people hung from trees while whites watched with their children as some type of recreation. I'm surprised I haven't started cursing yet. Better go before I go off!

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Permalink Reply by Loyd Dittfurth on November 11, 2009 at 8:38pm

im sorry i didnt mean to start anything like that ive just seen that happen and mind you i live in small town america hint that only 35 people were applying for the position

I apoligize if i opened the can of worms

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Permalink Reply by Rusty Mancini on November 11, 2009 at 7:52pm

I don't care what race you are, if you can do the job, then have at it ! May I ask, where are you getting your information from?

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Permalink Reply by peter w sherrill on November 11, 2009 at 8:32pm

And that is exactly the way it should be, however, after being involved in a racial discrimination lawsuit against a major corporation, wrote a book about that shit, you and I both know it don't work that way, and that is why we have these situations. you guys have had all the benefits and opportunities for generations because of racism and discrimination, so the playing field has never been level. You should read the garbage this young man went through after he got appointed by the chief at his station. Pure Racism! I would never go in a fire with you guys! Not after what I have read! Although, as a Former Director of Emergency Services City of Mount Vernon, N.Y. probably the only city to have a black chief and now a black commish in America, these guys work pretty well together.

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Permalink Reply by DUST on November 11, 2009 at 8:52pm

"I would never go in a fire with you guys!"

That is an insult. I think you just alienated your target audience...

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Permalink Reply by peter w sherrill on November 11, 2009 at 9:15pm

After some of the attitudes iread about, I would be scared as hell. You guys doesn't mean all of you, however, for those of you who have these predisposed feelings about blacks, which i am starting to hear in the responses, oh forgot to mention about my psych and sociology background, I don;t have that much courage or that much trust. Actually I really like most of the guys I have encountered, during my Homeland Security training, But I'd be lying if I said I wasn't deeply concerned. And what makes you think you are my targeted audience. I know that because it is a book by a black man a majority of you guys won't even buy it yet alone read it even if it was given to you for free!

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Permalink Reply by Paul Montpetit on November 12, 2009 at 4:00pm

it seems to me that you have presented this same issue but from the "other" side...maybe it is me who should say that I would never go inside with you......(notice I didn't say "we" or "us" I said me...I went through hell with a lot of men...white, yellow, red and yes evn black in a sunny wet miserable little area called Vietnam....I don't want to hear any BS about "the way I feel"....I will admit I DO feel it is wrong to hire someone over another more qualified person just because "Oh crap, we only have 1 Mexican, or damn we are short 2 women...or...UH-oh there are 3 blacks applying better hire 2..." I will ask you who would you rather go inside with...?? a better qualified person or someone hired to satify statistics...?....I am fed up and sick of this "You hate me because I am (inset minority here) crap" I have said at least once to a Latino guy I know....No, Jose, I don't hate you because you are Latino....I dislike you because you are an asshole." That went over like the proverbial fart in church...I got called on the carpet and reported EXACTLY what I said to him and he acknowledged that is what was said....case dismissed...I will NOT be told who I have to like...that is too much...Paul

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Permalink Reply by John Crabbe on November 11, 2009 at 9:41pm

you guys have had all the benefits and opportunities for generations because of racism and discrimination, so the playing field has never been level.

"You guys"....??? Way to bring up a topic about racism, then instead of understanding points, take an "us vs them" approach. nice.

So what are all these benefits and opportunities I recieved because of racism and discrimination, oh please tell me. Is it that I graduated high school knowing that I wanted to be a firefighter and learned what I needed to do. Is it that I have a degree to help me become a firefighter? Is it I was able to afford college to obtain that degree? No.

I learned from young on I wanted this job and I knew my decisions I made then affected me today. I was not a kid who received an academic scholarship, I didn't play sports well enough to obtain a sports scholarship, my parents never put money aside for college, I grew up with parents living paycheck to paycheck. I joined the Navy, I worked on college courses, I got out and used my GI Bill to obtain my degree and my certs and my paramedic. I tested all over, NYC, VA, IL, WI and so on, big cities, small cities, career, combination and finally got hired on. What did I do so different, so beneficial because of racism and discrimination that a minority could not do? Where did I benefit so much? I put myself through schooling, I obtained the certifications, I tested all over, I did nothing more than anyone else couldn't do.

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