Update: Hmmm…A federal investigation was warranted when they thought white firefighters hung the noose and wrote the note. Does “hate crime hoax” fall under federal jurisdiction? Will Donald Maynard be brought up on federal charges? Poor, victimized, put-upon, stressed out black man. Probably not.
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This is sad.
Turns out that a black firefighter in Baltimore who said he found a noose and “threatening note” in the fire station last month planted both himself. (Source)
Why did he do it? Let’s speculate.
If you read this blog regularly, you may know that fire departments have been pressured to “revamp” employment tests because too many blacks and hispanics were failing them. Anyone with half a brain knows that “revamp” is a euphemism for “dumbed down.” For whatever reason, blacks as a group don’t perform as well as whites on tests that measure general intelligence (designated as g).
In order to narrow the test gap, the test’s g-load is reduced. The result? More blacks pass the test. I suspect that Donald Maynard, who admitted writing the threatening note (typo and all), was bitter about his own subpar job performance (which I inferred from the story) as a firefighter-paramedic apprentice. (Additionally, the city’s inspector general uncovered a cheating scandal. Five black firefighters cheated on a promotions exam. As expected, they cried, “Racism!” when they got caught.)
In a misguided effort to mask his incompetence and blow off steam about perceived racism and a sense of his own inferiority, Maynard planted the noose and note. He knew exactly what the reaction would be: a national outcry, followed by unrighteous indignation, preening, and prancing by various racial grievance groups, a federal investigation, and sympathy for himself and black co-workers.
Maynard’s heinous actions contributed to what I’m certain was existing racial tension. Stephan Fugate, head of the union, wants an apology from black mayor Sheila Dixon, the local NAACP, and a group representing black firefighters.
Good luck with all that. 
Here are my suggestions for reducing racial tension in fire departments:
1) I have no proof, but I doubt the new, dumbed down employment test adequately evaluates an applicant’s reading comprehension and reasoning ability. If the test is easier to pass, that means it’s been watered down. Go back to the old test, even if it means a workforce of fewer blacks. Minorities hired under the dumbed down standard will be perceived as…dumb. That’s just the way it is. I didn’t say it was fair. Black firefighters hired under the same standards as everyone else can be proud of their performance, which would reduce feelings of inferiority, and white firefighters will have more respect for them, reducing tension all around;
2) The next time someone reports seeing a noose hanging anywhere, treat the report with healthy skepticism. Don’t be intimidated by the NAACP or loud-mouth black politicians. Let that yappy dog bark its head off. Your fear gives it power. (This is good advice for anyone afraid of being called a racist. The dog’s bark is worse than its bite.)
What are your suggestions for reducing racial tension in the workplace?
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