-> Nature is what's happening... the strong eat up the weak. Survival
-> skills are a necessity. How is it other black people seem to lead
-> very successful lives and you have so much trouble?
The circumstances of people differ, Don.  Even in the times when
non-whites in the US were overtly viewed as sub-human, there were blacks
who were not only free but some quite wealthy, educated and travelled.
Circumstances were especially favorable for them; they made good life
choices.  My lot is certainly better than my father's and I am taking
steps to achieve what it is that I DESIRE FOR MY LIFE...NOT what others
decide I am entitled to.  You are not black or likely even a minority
and therefore cannot presume to know what you speak [of a black man's
experience]. Yours appear to be the trials of a blue-collar white man.
Your white skin gives the immediate advantage over a latino or black
because you will be spared most of the intangibles of
employer/business-owner bias.  The owner [if white] will likely see
racial kinship in you even if he does not consciously acknowledge it.
If the owner is black, you may still be hired if you have the skills
because a minority business owner must be practical.  Virtually all big
business in the US is white-dominated so minorities must seek any means
to a niche.  Don, let's be frank--your white racial heritage ALONE opens
doors that are covertly barred to me.  You will have to work far less to
acquire employment than your black or latino equivalent.  Because this
is likely so, you have the emotional approach to life, this attitude you
are callously displaying.  A black or latino will have had many more
doors closed to them--and this creates befuddlement, anger & a bit of
despair.  One must work so much harder to get the basics, to make needed
inroads to personal success.  This has been the situation for me.  I
approach interviews strongly and make certain that I do very well in the
job-testing.  I want to make the best impression--and often I am told
how striking I am, how strong and solid my skills are, what good work
references I have.  And then weeks go by with no work--from multiple
agencies.  It does not add up, Don.
-> DB> It all seems so "cut and dried" with you, Don--you acquire
-> skills, DB> go to employers/agencies who have a need of your skills
-> and expect DB> to go out to work.  It does not seem to occur to you
-> that those DB> employers/agencies might harbour an irrational image
-> of what a DB> worker in a kind of industry
->
-> It is cut and dried... Go to work where you're wanted. If you want to
-> change the whole world you'd better expect a few bumps along the way.
Go to work where I am wanted, Don?  Shouldn't that be anywhere I have
the skills/training to work?  Well, then I HAVE.  No one there turns me
away when I present my resume; unless I am going to second-guess, HOW am
I going to know in advance that I have no chance, Don? I am not
interested in being a clerk or pushing boxes around a warehouse.  I did
that when I was a boy trying to learn the ropes.  I have better skills
now, more education--I want and will have MORE.
-> Also, I know what irrational employers are like. I've not been hired
-> because of a beard; even trimmed ones. Also, when honestly told I
-> could have the job if I shaved... I just laughed and left. The logic
-> was THIS employer didn't care to have a competent driver; they just
-> wanted someone who could be run over... scared into compliance.
-> Intimidated... I didn't think I could get fair treatment from someone
-> like that.
Ridiculous isn't it...the antics supervisors/employers attempt on even
those they WANT to hire.
-> Stay where you are... and keep crying about how tough it is!
Such an obnoxious, condescending remark, Don.  You demonstrate the
development of your character with such flippant comment.  The Vince
Lombardi approach to life has destroyed many a psyche.  So many
stoic-appearing macho men who are alcoholics and wife-beaters because
inside they feel trapped by that mindless all-or-nothing ideology.  I am
relating my experiences to you, Don, with some calm resolve.  I am
continually working to make progress, to improve myself--or else I would
not have even what I do.  Perhaps I would have taken the "easy way" out
into booze, dope or crime.  If you want me to respect YOUR experiences
in life, you had better return the humanity.
-> Are you a local user to the Computer1 BBS? I cannot find your node
-> address displayed anywhere. I'm more than happy to continue this
-> discussion but over in netmail...
Yes, I access the newsgroups through Computer-1 BBS.  If you want to
exchange e-mail, you will have to supply an internet address.
Mine is 'racewalker@comp1.com'.
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