Thoughts on if this is a case for filing for discrimination?

[quincy]

I am going to make an assumption here that you are white. I'm trying to think of a good scenario to help you to understand why it might seem like a racist remark to someone without the benefit of white privilege, but it's hard to do so. Because when you never ever have a situation where you are treated unfairly because of the color of your skin, it's really hard to think outside the box to understand. On the other hand, when someone has had to deal with those kind of situations, it makes it hard to think that, gee, maybe THIS time, it's not a discriminatory thing.

But thank you all for your input.

I haven't decided yet which route to take, but I have met with a lawyer and I will see what his decision is this week.

In response to my employer - I haven't yet told them. Because the have a store in my community, and have supported them in many ways over the years. I will tell them, depending on my eventual decision on what to do.

You make a good point, Trevionesmommy.

One's own experiences in life will color one's perceptions, sometimes unconsciously. Perhaps it is because I am white that I did not read the passage as you did. not2cleverRed picked up on how you might have interpreted what you read differently than I.

I am not sure you have a discrimination action worth the costs of pursuing (with costs including more than just monetary costs) but having all facts personally reviewed by an attorney in your area couldn't hurt. If the township is discriminating against members of your community based on race, it needs to be pointed out to the township and appropriately addressed.

Good luck with whatever decision you decide to make.

 

[CTU]

I am going to make an assumption here that you are white. I'm trying to think of a good scenario to help you to understand why it might seem like a racist remark to someone without the benefit of white privilege, but it's hard to do so. Because when you never ever have a situation where you are treated unfairly because of the color of your skin, it's really hard to think outside the box to understand. On the other hand, when someone has had to deal with those kind of situations, it makes it hard to think that, gee, maybe THIS time, it's not a discriminatory thing.

But thank you all for your input.

I haven't decided yet which route to take, but I have met with a lawyer and I will see what his decision is this week.

In response to my employer - I haven't yet told them. Because the have a store in my community, and have supported them in many ways over the years. I will tell them, depending on my eventual decision on what to do.

Thank you for proving my point. Alas, I was correct in my assumption.

 

[quincy]

Thank you for proving my point. Alas, I was correct in my assumption.

I sort of thought that Trevionesmommy's assumption would not pass without comment from you.

 

[jimnyc]

I understand that I don't have any direct evidence of discrimination. Other than the paragraph stating "While we support all members of our community, we have financial restrictions we must adhere to." That seems like a very underhanded racist remark to me.

And then further down the thread you speak of "white privilege". All of this without a single piece of proof relating to discrimination, not even in the same universe. You're angry, so you found a way to find racism, which doesn't exist. And then when the folks here tried to help and point things out to you, you find racism in that, pointing out that they must be white.

I find it appalling when people try to use racism to help there argument, and make accusations towards others, when there is nothing to base it on. Then good people often get smeared when it's not deserved.

 

[NIV]

I think we will agree that a person's subjective feelings of being discriminated against for a prohibited reason should NOT be determinative as to if they have actually been illegally discriminated against. However, I bet most successful lawsuits for illegal discrimination begin with those subjective feelings.

The problem is, people often make changed behavior based on their feelings that creates the very situation they fear in the first place. A study on government workers on subjective feelings of discrimination found they made choices based on those feelings. For example, women in an organization were afraid they would be discriminated against and not advanced simply because they were women. That caused some women to change organizations or job categories so as to not suffer discrimination. That resulted in less women being advanced and changed the ratio at the next level.

It's almost like feeling the grapes are sour so it is not worth the effort to jump.

 

[quincy]

I think we will agree that a person's subjective feelings of being discriminated against for a prohibited reason should NOT be determinative as to if they have actually been illegally discriminated against. However, I bet most successful lawsuits for illegal discrimination begin with those subjective feelings.

The problem is, people often make changed behavior based on their feelings that creates the very situation they fear in the first place. A study on government workers on subjective feelings of discrimination found they made choices based on those feelings. For example, women in an organization were afraid they would be discriminated against and not advanced simply because they were women. That caused some women to change organizations or job categories so as to not suffer discrimination. That resulted in less women being advanced and changed the ratio at the next level.

It's almost like feeling the grapes are sour so it is not worth the effort to jump.

As I said earlier, racial discrimination can be subtle, so subtle that those who are not the target of the discrimination may never recognize it for what it is.

I try very hard to not project my own beliefs on others (which is probably why my kids will eat Brussel sprouts ). If someone believes they are being unfairly treated because of their race (or gender or whatever), I am in no position to discount this belief simply because it does not conform with my own.

 

[not2cleverRed]

As I said earlier, racial discrimination can be subtle, so subtle that those who are not the target of the discrimination may never recognize it for what it is.

I try very hard to not project my own beliefs on others (which is probably why my kids will eat Brussel sprouts ). If someone believes they are being unfairly treated because of their race (or gender or whatever), I am in no position to discount this belief simply because it does not conform with my own.

Exactly.

A middle class African American woman in my community told of when her daughter was applying to colleges, the high school guidance counselors tried to discourage her from applying to highly competitive schools (like the Ivy League) because "your parents wouldn't be able to afford that". Like the guidance counselor knew anything about the family's finances! Do you think that a guidance counselor would say that to a white academically gifts child? In a word: No. If a white child were that academically gifted, they would be advised to shoot for the moon.

Her daughter persisted, got into several prestigious schools... was offered merit based full scholarships... eventually went to Harvard Law... and during the previous administration was described by Newsweek as "the most powerful Presidential staffer you've never heard of".

There are phrases you get used to hearing if you are a minority that you hear as code for something else.

OP knows her community better than any of us.

I do think she has an uphill battle.