December, what’s the point of that quote? To prove that people treat people based on personal experiences? Of course and so what? We all make decisions based on our history…
If Howard Raines gave Blair breaks based on his (Raines) experience has a white southerner, that’s RAINES’ problem. Not one of diversity. In fact, one could say that had Raines had a more diverse background, he might have seen Blair for the con man he was and ‘forgot’ Blair’s race or his own white ‘guilt’.
I don’t understand what you’re trying to show or prove, I think most people agree that Blair’s race was a part of his ‘insulation’, however i question the importance of in this case. We all have some form of ‘egde’ that we can exploit and it seems that Blair’s, was his ability to kiss ass; the color of his skin was an added bonus.
As you know, the (Times) editors had golden children who could do no wrong…you need to ask yourself, had Blair been white, would he have been treated any differently by these same editors? Once the editors took a liking to a reported, the reported seemed to have a free pass? Do you disagree? If you do, please tell why.
That’s what this is really about, Raines acknowledgement of Blair’s race is a convenient excuse…now. Raines’ excuse is that because he saw how Blacks were treated, he gave Blair more chances. However I wonder why didn’t he also say that various editors have their ‘favourites’, who get special treatment as well… were all of them black too?
Had Blair been a leggy Blonde, would Raines tell us that because his wife was a cow, yes that leggy Blonde got a break more than she should have? Whose fault is that? The quest for diversity? Because Raines can’t be honest with himself, diversity is to blame? Had Raines been honest with himself, he would have let Blair go and hired a qualified black reporter. He didn’t. Why? because he liked Blair, the man. Not Blair, the Black Man and like most people, you give people you like extra chances.
The problem at the Times wasn’t a desire for diversity, it was a desire to have news department full of hand picked ‘chosen’ ones.
Even the NY Post realizes this.