Wednesday Observations

Who would ever think that it could be 50 degrees in the dead of winter in New York? Walking outside to pick up lunch I couldn't help but think about random things like will I need to kill an overbearing coworker today and when will I make my first million dollars? It's hard to believe in this day and age that with all of the advances in science and technology, some still can't make any headway on race relations and common civility. Noplace is this more prevelant than in the workplace. Everyone knows i'm really into conspiriacy theories. I believe that while blatent discrimintation (like back of the bus segregation and tree lynchings) has diminished, a new form of discrimination is cropping up and many minorities aren't fully aware of it. It's called financial discrimination. Basically in most states, employers have the right to ask you to sign a release so that they can access your credit report.

The law allows employers to use this as a form of "character reference". If you were applying for a position that involved handling money or financial records with classified information (i.e. soccial security numbers, etc.) then this practice would make sense. However, what if you are applying for a basic receptionist role where your primary function is to answer phones. What grounds does that give the potential employer to review your credit history? Does what is listed truly represent a person's character? What happens if one decides not to sign the release giving permission to the potential employer? I would imagine that's the end of the road on your quest for a job with that organization. I strongly believe that our basic privacy is being invaded with this law. This declaration not only allows the employer to use it prior to hiring you, but also during your employment period as a reference for future promotions! How crazy is that? Combine that legality with poor management and that is the gateway creation to workplace tension and potential violence.

For me...no way any job is going to make me catch a case. However, for many minorities, the economic limitations from affordable housing, affordable schooling, affordable anything makes it much more difficult for us to advance and elevate as a people. It make me wonder if we will have another rising of conscienceness that Dr. King helped to define in the 60s. Will there be someone to pave the way? Will it be a collection of people? Will there be noone at all? Personally, I feel each of us has the potential to lead. It is just a matter of choice as to whether we will be change agents or simply be legislated back to slavery.