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If they knew that blacks have less resources and are therefore on average worse applicants as a result, then they knew that a bad application statistically mean
by throwaway74432 2y ago
If they knew that blacks have less resources and are therefore on average worse applicants as a result, then they knew that a bad application statistically meant a black applicant. So by not picking the worse application, they were in effect being statistically racist.
- akoboldfrying 2y agoI think you're kidding, because this reasoning means (a) assuming a priori that blacks will do noticeably worse and (b) deliberately choosing worse applications, both of which are crazy. At least, it's the kind of convoluted joke I'd enjoy making to certain friends who know my real thoughts on the matter. But I can't really tell.
- throwaway74432 2y agoIt's not crazy to assume that people with less resources and support will do worse. The logic is sound and its in fact the standard explanation (along with discrimination) as to why marginalized groups do worse.
- akoboldfrying 2y ago>The logic is sound It's really, really not. You have come to the conclusion that grant deciders should deliberately choose worse applications based on a series of shaky assumptions, including that black applicants have had less support and resources, that this will cause them to produce conspicuously worse applications, and most glaringly of all, that this assumed effect dominates all other considerations! I hope you're just trolling me and don't seriously believe this.
- throwaway74432 2y agoHonestly I think that you are trolling me, but I am trying to assume good faith. In your first reply to me, you said "[an explanation is that] systemic racism in education in the past has left black applicants less well prepared than other applicants." Now you are saying this is a shaky hypothesis and has minimal impact on the applications?