Melvin B. Miller
Editor & Publisher

A big step toward diversity

A steady stream of well-educated, well-dressed job applicants flowed through the Boston Marriott Copley Place Exhibition Hall last week for the first Bay State Banner “Diversity Today Career Explosion.” Major medical institutions, corporations and universities were there to provide information about jobs.

Job seekers were exceptionally well qualified. More than half had master’s degrees or higher. Most had varied experience that would be helpful to a new employer.

The Banner had planned on attracting applicants of this caliber. Consequently, it was necessary to provide an environment appropriate for this professional level.

Such talented applicants understandably have great expectations. Unfortunately, with such varied expertise in so many fields it was impossible for employers to provide job interviews on the spot to all those who were promising. Those interested in positions with any of the participating companies or institutions must have the initiative to pursue openings.

Participation in the job fair was also challenging for employers. The press of enthusiastic applicants made it difficult for exhibitors to sell the virtues of their institutions and evaluate the qualifications of applicants simultaneously. It is hoped that applicants were able to receive from every employer at least a description of the available job openings.

Despite the difficulties, the Banner has concluded that a job fair for upscale minority employment prospects is a useful approach. It provides a cost-effective way for employers to identify prospective employees. Also, the Diversity Today Career Explosion provides a corporate declaration of the equal employment opportunity policy of some Greater Boston employers.

Of course, every project or policy can be improved, so the Banner is open to suggestions for next year.

Ending the hatred

One of the advantages of ethnic diversity is that there are often varying points of view on issues. However, these differences are not always appreciated or understood.

Gov. Deval Patrick was recently criticized for his speech at a solemn Sept. 11 memorial service. He said that the disaster was, in part, the result of “a failure of human understanding.” Most African Americans would readily concur with this remark.

The governor dismissed the criticism as politically motivated, and that might well be the case. It is said that in Boston, politics is a contact sport.

Nonetheless, it might be worthwhile to consider how most African Americans would construe the remark.

During the civil rights movement, there was an expression used to describe violent acts of retaliation to racial discrimination — “the hatred that hate produced.” Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s genius was that he interposed nonviolence and human love as a reaction to racially inspired violence.

The jihadists believe that they have been so affronted and abused by the United States that they are willing to sacrifice their lives to inflict harm and damage on their perceived enemies. Is this not a “failure of human understanding”?

There must be hope in every heart that sound human understanding and human love can one day resolve the hostility that caused the 9/11 disaster. American antagonism toward the Middle East will not solve the problem.

“I’ve got a lot of leads to follow up.”