Michael Blechman: ‘Diversity’ Looks a Lot Like Old-Fashioned Discrimination Essay (Article Review)

Introduction

From 1930 to 1970, many American citizens faced numerous challenges due to the existing levels of prejudice and discrimination. Such obstacles made it impossible for the affected individuals to pursue their goals in life, including quality education, sustainable medical services, and job opportunities. Although the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and the Civil Rights Movement managed to push for legal reforms in the United States, many citizens from minority races continued to encounter a wide range of problems. Similar forms of prejudice and inequality are also evident in this country today. This discussion uses the article, “‘Diversity’ Looks a Lot Like Old-Fashioned Discrimination” by Michael Blechman to support the above assertion and propose better legal ideas to overcome discrimination.

Diversity and Discrimination in the United States

The author of the selected article begins by indicating that he was barred from working in one of the top law firms in the 1960s despite being a Harvard Law School student. At the time, Blechman was looking for a summer associate job during his second year at the university. This was seen as “a rite of passage that generally led to permanent employment” (Blechman). He was confident since he had performed exceptionally in class and possessed the most appropriate competencies. Getting such an opportunity would make it possible for him to pursue his career goals diligently and eventually become successful in life.

The writer goes further to explain how he had selected four firms capable of supporting his professional expectations or goals. Unfortunately, he failed to get a job despite having the outlined skills and requirements. During his fourth interview, Blechman realized that the recruiters were looking for someone who could relate positively with their attorneys. Since he was not white, chances were high that he would not deliver the targeted objectives or aims in such firms (Blechman). This became a turning point for the author because he realized that there was a need to acknowledge that prejudice and discrimination were realities affecting American society during the 1960s.

The writer decided to identify a Jewish law firm in the city that could offer him a job. Such a move succeeded after he contacted the hiring partner at Kaye Scholer. It was quite clear to him that the issue of race mattered during the time. After finishing his studies, he stayed at this law firm until his retirement in 2016 (Blechman). While in Berlin, he collaborated and worked with many German clients. This achievement revealed that he could complete numerous goals even when working with individuals who were not like them. This was the same “thing the white-shore firms had assumed he could never do” (Blechman).

Throughout his career, the writer realized that many young individuals in the United States continued to encounter similar challenges. Kaye Scholer and other law firms in New York managed to benefit significantly from this form of bigotry existing in the country.

The article goes further to indicate that a number of law firms from 1970 began to overcome their malpractices or prejudices. They have continued to hire individuals identified as diverse, including African Americans, women, Asian Americans, and Hispanics (Blechman). Kaye Scholer and other agencies became diverse, thereby being in a position to meet the changing needs of many employees and clients in the city.

Unfortunately, modern developments have resulted in a new form of discrimination whereby the concept of diversity is promoted while at the same time failing to meet the needs of all people. This means that citizens who might be deemed “unfavorable” will find it hard to get better jobs in different firms or organizations in this country. The idea of diversity is pursued in such a way that only a small percentage of individuals from minority groups can be admitted to institutions such as the Harvard Law School. Harvard’s admission panel or team has continued to provide justifications for its rejection of competent or qualified individuals from minority groups (Blechman).

They do so by presenting negative views or assessments whenever focusing on different aspects such as character traits. This de-facto quota, according to the author, is malpractice that is similar to the systems applied on Jews in the 1920s. Today, Harvard appears to give opportunities to students from racial groups that might have faced numerous hardships in the past, such as Hispanics and African Americans (Blechman). Unfortunately, the outcome is that it has continued to affect the goals of many Jews and other races in this country.

When societies and communities continue to embrace this form of malpractice, chances are high that more people from minority backgrounds will be unable to achieve their potential despite the fact that they possess adequate skills and competencies. The promotion of discrimination can make it impossible for the affected individuals to pursue their aims in life or record significant upward mobility rates (Blechman). Such an initiative is also unacceptable in accordance with the provisions of the Civil Rights Act of 1964. It is also evident that the promotion of such misbehaviors will continue to make the United States a country of inequality whereby many citizens are unable to lead high-quality lives.

Recommendations

The above analysis and discussion by Blechman have indicated clearly that many individuals in the United States are currently facing numerous challenges that are attributable to the prejudice and discriminatory practices many leaders and firms embrace. The case of law firms described in this article gives a clear picture of the challenges that the government should address immediately. This means that there is a need for superior laws or legal frameworks to address all forms of discrimination or exclusion in schools and workplaces. The ultimate objectives should be to support the needs of all underserved people and empower them to achieve their potential (Blechman). Such initiatives will transform this country and make it a good place for all citizens.

The author goes further to present evidence-based ideas for improving the current situation. For instance, Blechman asserts that schools such as Harvard and other colleges should “give preference in its admissions to applicants who have excelled despite coming from disadvantaged backgrounds”. The reason for giving this suggestion is that it is capable of addressing the challenge of prejudice and ensures that more people are able to pursue their academic objectives.

Employers should also hire individuals based on their competencies and qualifies. Those who come from disadvantaged backgrounds can also receive adequate support in order to emerge successful (Blechman). Another argument is that all strategies based on the factor of race have failed to deliver meaningful outcomes in this country. The government can introduce effective legal policies to ensure that positive results are recorded.

Another suggestion is that stakeholders, policymakers, and educationists should pursue the ideal of equality from a legal perspective. The country continues to pursue the demographic and goal proportionality at the cost of equal opportunities, thereby affecting the outcomes and experiences of the greatest number of people from underserved populations. With the support of proper guidelines and laws, all Americans will ignore the issue of race and focus on the most appropriate initiatives that will promote the concepts of equality and sustainable opportunities for all (Blechman).

The concept of rationalizing admissions in institutions such as Harvard requires should be analyzed critically since it has resulted in increased cases of discrimination. The government should also consider these issues and present evidence-based strategies and programs that will promote meaningful diversity.

Conclusion

The above discussion has revealed that prejudice and discrimination are unique predicaments that continue to affect many American citizens despite the existence of powerful laws, including the Civil Rights Act of 1964. The author of the selected article explains how he was unable to land his first job simply because he was a Jew. Today, a new form of prejudice has emerged whereby different institutions and employers across the United States use a quota system to favor individuals from groups that might have faced hardships in the past. Consequently, many people from diverse backgrounds have been unable to pursue their aims.

A superior approach informed by the current challenges different people encounter will address such issues and make it easier for them to record positive social mobilities. Such an achievement will also ensure that this country achieves most of its economic objectives.

Work Cited

Blechman, Michael. “‘Diversity’ Looks a Lot Like Old-Fashioned Discrimination.” The Wall Street Journal. 2018. Web.