ROANOKE TIMES
Copyright (c) 1996, Roanoke Times
DATE: Wednesday, November 6, 1996 TAG: 9611060035
SECTION: EDITORIAL PAGE: A-14 EDITION: METRO
TEXACO executives caught on tape making plans to destroy or hide documents being sought in a race-discrimination suit and vilifying the company's black employees present sobering evidence of continued, deep-seated racism that most of white America insists no longer exists.
It's discouraging, as well as appalling.
What good can come of revealing such despicable behavior - besides helping 1,500 black employees considerably in their $520 million class-action suit against the oil company?
Another result might be to open the eyes of white Americans of good will who truly believe there is now a level playing field in this country - or even, perhaps, one graded to give the advantage to their black peers.
Surely, they may think, 30 years after the civil-rights movement forced the nation to confront the hypocrisy of prejudice and discrimination in a country founded on principles of freedom and equality, race no longer is an issue in most hiring and promotion decisions - unless it is to give preference to a minority.
Undeniably, black skin helps sometimes. But only sometimes.
Anyone who thinks otherwise must pause over the taped comments, laced with references to "niggers" and "black jelly beans," when one executive observes: "That's funny. All the black jelly beans seem to be glued to the bottom of the bag." Hardly a surprising outcome when corporate decision-makers such as he regard an entire race with stupid disdain.
Texaco's chairman told employees he was offended, ashamed and outraged. He should be.
But a more constructive debate about the need for, and limitations of, affirmative action may be possible if (1) whites can accept the tapes as a glimpse into a world that blacks see too often, and (2) blacks can believe that despite this, for most whites, this territory is strange and ugly and not a place where they want to go.
The discussion needs to begin with the fact that racism remains alive and well in America.
LENGTH: Short : 43 linesby CNB