'Jamal' should get hired too

We have never liked discrimination in any way, shape or form. With every opportunity that presents itself, we campaign and argue against discrimination and its effects on American society. All people have a right to enjoy the freedoms and liberties guaranteed in the Constitution.\nWith that said, a study released by professors from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and the University of Chicago details an interesting type of discrimination, and its effects on equal opportunity hiring.\n The study, entitled "Are Emily and Brendan More Employable then Lakisha and Jamal?" took typical job applicant resumes, and assigned them random names, some sounding black and some sounding white. These resumes were also varied by level of qualification, some with advanced degrees and some without. The resumes were then sent to many different employers in the Boston and Chicago metro areas, with many of the inquiries being answers to ads in the Boston Globe and the Chicago Tribune. The researchers found that names that appeared 'white' got 50 percent more callbacks for interviews than did the black names for the beginners' resumes, and for the resumes with advanced qualifications, white names got 30 percent more callbacks than black names did. The researchers also reported some of the solicitations they sent out went to employers who specifically state they are Equal Opportunity Employers in their ads. Some of the resumes also went out to government agencies and contractors, which are required by law to adhere to thorough diversity standards.\nTo begin to have a truly diverse country where people are respected no matter what race they are, people are going to have to be re-educated about their own stereotypes. Whether or not the streamlining of the resumes was inadvertent, the effect discrimination has on people is damaging, and continues to divide the nation.\nAlthough racism isn't as openly obvious and violent as in past times, it still cuts deep in the hearts of many. We've all heard stories of how some store employees will follow people of color around the store for surveillance purposes, and pretend to want to help, as well as the numerous complaints of people being pulled over for "driving while black." Even the coach of the Indiana Pacers, Isaiah Thomas, was put in handcuffs and bent over the back of a squad car for a minor traffic violation.\nThis study brings to light another way people are being denied fair treatment because of pre-conceived stereotypes and hidden racist feelings. Denying people positions, or even the chance to entertain the opportunity for a position solely based on uncontrollable traits will continue to hold this country back from true greatness. Studies like this will continue to expose the little things that make a big difference in interpersonal relations. We applaud the researchers, and hope that these results will make people stop to think before they assume things about other people.