Notes From D.R. | Random Thoughts on the Passing Scene

http://news.bostonherald.com/localRegional/view.bg?articleid=73951

http://news.bostonherald.com/localRegional/view.bg?articleid=73731&format=text

http://news.bostonherald.com/localRegional/view.bg?articleid=74088&format=text

http://www.boston.com/news/local/massachusetts/articles/2005/03/19/for_second_year_boston_swears_in_all_white_firefighter_class?mode=PF

Surprising that this news hasn’t generated more of a racial controversy in Boston. Of course, the main problem with the various attempts over the years to have more racial and ethnic diversity in big-city fire (and police) departments is that members of different groups are not equally interested in civil service jobs. How many black and Hispanic children grow up aspiring to be firefighters or policemen? For whatever cultural reason, these jobs aren’t generally seen as fascinating, interesting, or lucrative in communities of color. If young black and Hispanic kids were as equally desirous of being on the force or in the firehouse as young white kids tend to be, these discrepancies probably wouldn’t exist. However, the "equality of result" that pro-affirmative action activists hope for will not and cannot happen if there is not an equality of interest in the firefighting and crimefighting fields.