The Disproportionate Overrepresentation of Minority Youth in ...

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It might be pointed out here that this youth was the most blatantly racist of all
those interviewed. For the most part these youth were sensitive to unfair treatment based
on race and wanted to see improvement in this area. In many cases however, while the
white youth were saying things in support of blacks, certain stereotypes and biases often
underlined their verbal responses. For example, one white youth said that qualified blacks
could get the same job as a white person “if they are well groomed and stuff”.
Equal Job and Pay Opportunities
Despite the large consensus who felt that discrimination is getting worse, very
few thought race would stand in the way of obtaining a job or a promotion. This is true
for both whites and blacks; however, 20 percent of the blacks saw job discrimination as
compared to 10 percent of the whites (Tables 1, 2).
Most of the youth seem to relate discrimination to acts of violence and hatred. For
those who think of discrimination in this manner, prejudice is not perceived to occur on
the job market. For example, the black youth quoted as saying, “I don’t think anything’s
getting better,” feels that a qualified black can get as good a job or make as much money
as a white person. Another black youth who felt discrimination is getting worse said, “If
you’re black and have a good education, there ain’t nothing holding you back to do what
you want to do.” Not even discrimination.
About 90 percent of the white youth did not believe that race would hinder
advancement in the work place. Many of them felt equal opportunities exist despite the
perception that discrimination is occurring. Government policy was seen as providing