Reply #80: I can't really see it in the military. [View All]

Here, it's all about the rank we wear on our uniform. That said, the military is a sub-society of our larger society. Some of us in the office were remarking that one could not joke about race in the civilian sector the way we joke about it in the office; somebody would get offended. That, however, is because we have a common bond that transcends race. This was in an office that was 2:1 black to white.

So enlighten me: how does a white electrician at a paper mill, like my father, have a great advantage over a black electrician working in the same position with the same skill set?

I've asked this question of others who make the same assertion and they always give the same "if you don't know, you're clearly racist" response and never really answer the question. Please don't do that. I really want to know, and I operate in a sub-society where racial dynamics don't operate the same way they do in the greater society at large. I've no point of reference from which to draw a comparison. Please just answer the question.