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> “Why do all the Black kids sit at the same table at school?” ... “Why is it no longer okay to say nr?" WTF. Offensive or not these questions are plain dumb.

> “Why do all the Black kids sit at the same table at school?” ... “Why is it no longer okay to say nr?" WTF. Offensive or not these questions are plain dumb. He must have been trying to illicit a reaction from Makinde. Reminds me of the SNL skit where Richard Pryor is being interviewed by Chevy Chase doing word associations. https://vimeo.com/117983862 https://vimeo.com/117983862

not_that_noob 10y ago
My sense is that he was making sure that Makinde wouldn't be too politically assertive about race issues. Borderline illegal most likely, apart from being exceedingly and odiously offensive.
- tetrep 10y ago
  > ...he was making sure that Makinde wouldn't be too politically assertive about race issues. I think that gives him far too much credit. It's no different than if you asked someone "Why is it offensive if I grope you, hit on you, and imply that sexual favors will advance your career?" It smacks of complete obliviousness to social issues at best, which would make the interviewer extremely unqualified to screen interview candidates for anything other than pure technical qualifications. Which, in this instance, they were obviously conducting an at least partially non-technical interview. My suspicion is it's an aggressive move, to make sure that the racially insensitive and/or offensive status quo can be maintained with the interviewer betting heavily that their actions would not be called out post-hoc and that any candidate who was offended would walk away quietly. The people creating such a climate can claim an attempt at stimulating diversity, but that their job offers are turned down. It's unfortunate that we don't know who did this nor does it appear that their company was contacted/informed about the inappropriate behavior of one of their employees.
- deleted 10y ago
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- stcredzero 10y ago
  My sense is that he was making sure that Makinde wouldn't be too politically assertive about race issues. Strange. My sense is that the interviewer was fishing to see if he would be politically assertive enough.
- IOT_Apprentice 10y ago
  Assertive when asking a black man why he can't use the word nigger to his face? Politically assertive or meek and subservient to this asshole?
- slackstation 10y ago
  > ...he was making sure that Makinde wouldn't be too politically assertive about race issues. Well, if he were truely politically assertive, he would answer smoothly and to the interviewers full satisfaction, take the job, wear a microphone and follow up on the interview questions on tape and then sue the everliving shit out of the company. It's strategically stupid in addition to being an asshole move. The only people who really suffer are the ones that you actually want; reasonable, smart developers with options will wisely avoid this company like the plague. The risk that your manager will continue to act this way or that they will have a deep-seeded bias against black people is high. The chance that they are merely good-intentioned but, inarticulate and socially awkward are low. Even in that best case scenario, those are terrible qualities to have in a manager.
- cloudjacker 10y ago
  Well, not illegal as he wasn't an employee AND he got an offer from the company So there is no claim to make. If he was an employee or didn't get an offer he could get the EEOC to strongarm the company into an OK settlement. Otherwise without a federal agency bankrolling the strongarming, there is no way to make something like an emotional distress claim in state court especially with the lack of proof.
ww520 10y ago
It sounds like a power play. Interview is already a unbalanced power situation. Using race to try to put someone in their place is fucked up on so many levels.
- prawn 10y ago
  I imagine it was the interviewer trying to be upfront and casual about it, but coming across as very awkward instead especially given that they were his opening questions in a professional setting!
- tootie 10y ago
  Sounds more like the guy was mildly autistic. Saying that out loud just opens you up to public ridicule and scorn.
joshrotenberg 10y ago
Yeah, I had to read that a few times to see if I missed something ... not that I can think of anything that would have made it a less shocking that someone would walk into a room to interview someone and ask questions like that.
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LordKano 10y ago
I have stepped away from development for the time being but as a black man in the industry, when I read that, I already knew what my answers would have been. He was probably a lot more diplomatic than I would have been.

not_that_noob 10y ago

My sense is that he was making sure that Makinde wouldn't be too politically assertive about race issues. Borderline illegal most likely, apart from being exceedingly and odiously offensive.

tetrep 10y ago
> ...he was making sure that Makinde wouldn't be too politically assertive about race issues. I think that gives him far too much credit. It's no different than if you asked someone "Why is it offensive if I grope you, hit on you, and imply that sexual favors will advance your career?" It smacks of complete obliviousness to social issues at best, which would make the interviewer extremely unqualified to screen interview candidates for anything other than pure technical qualifications. Which, in this instance, they were obviously conducting an at least partially non-technical interview. My suspicion is it's an aggressive move, to make sure that the racially insensitive and/or offensive status quo can be maintained with the interviewer betting heavily that their actions would not be called out post-hoc and that any candidate who was offended would walk away quietly. The people creating such a climate can claim an attempt at stimulating diversity, but that their job offers are turned down. It's unfortunate that we don't know who did this nor does it appear that their company was contacted/informed about the inappropriate behavior of one of their employees.
deleted 10y ago
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stcredzero 10y ago
My sense is that he was making sure that Makinde wouldn't be too politically assertive about race issues. Strange. My sense is that the interviewer was fishing to see if he would be politically assertive enough.
IOT_Apprentice 10y ago
Assertive when asking a black man why he can't use the word nigger to his face? Politically assertive or meek and subservient to this asshole?
slackstation 10y ago
> ...he was making sure that Makinde wouldn't be too politically assertive about race issues. Well, if he were truely politically assertive, he would answer smoothly and to the interviewers full satisfaction, take the job, wear a microphone and follow up on the interview questions on tape and then sue the everliving shit out of the company. It's strategically stupid in addition to being an asshole move. The only people who really suffer are the ones that you actually want; reasonable, smart developers with options will wisely avoid this company like the plague. The risk that your manager will continue to act this way or that they will have a deep-seeded bias against black people is high. The chance that they are merely good-intentioned but, inarticulate and socially awkward are low. Even in that best case scenario, those are terrible qualities to have in a manager.
cloudjacker 10y ago
Well, not illegal as he wasn't an employee AND he got an offer from the company So there is no claim to make. If he was an employee or didn't get an offer he could get the EEOC to strongarm the company into an OK settlement. Otherwise without a federal agency bankrolling the strongarming, there is no way to make something like an emotional distress claim in state court especially with the lack of proof.

ww520 10y ago

It sounds like a power play. Interview is already a unbalanced power situation. Using race to try to put someone in their place is fucked up on so many levels.

prawn 10y ago
I imagine it was the interviewer trying to be upfront and casual about it, but coming across as very awkward instead especially given that they were his opening questions in a professional setting!
tootie 10y ago
Sounds more like the guy was mildly autistic. Saying that out loud just opens you up to public ridicule and scorn.

joshrotenberg 10y ago

Yeah, I had to read that a few times to see if I missed something ... not that I can think of anything that would have made it a less shocking that someone would walk into a room to interview someone and ask questions like that.

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LordKano 10y ago

I have stepped away from development for the time being but as a black man in the industry, when I read that, I already knew what my answers would have been. He was probably a lot more diplomatic than I would have been.