Not once have you given an concrete example of racism affecting pay. That was, after all, the start of the discussion. I've had three professional careers and a number of jobs. Everybody started out at the same pay. Merit raises were given to the hardest working, smartest, most capable, and dependable. Yearly COLA raises were given to everyone based on a percentage. In a couple of instances, pay differences are directly attributable to the level of education and the value of the person to the organization. Bachelors degree level might make 5,000 less than a masters, and so on.

When I asked the author of the piece about it, she didn't give any examples either. You seemed to be offended because the difference in my view as someone who's done payroll and has some management time was different than the authors and might have challenged a narrative. Since we live in a time of narratives, they are worth challenging if people still care about facts. Fact is, the black lieutenant I worked under made starting pay for a lieutenant at 19 years on the job.

The officer that worked my shift who was black made starting pay for a line officer and then got the cost of living raises like we all did, and made more each year she was there.

So, based on education, position, and value to the business or organization, there may be pay differences, but I've never seen one that was based on race.

And to put it into context, the only time I ever saw racism was:

1. Being racially discriminated against during an interview because I look like a caucasian or someone with a little indian blood rather than a black person.

2. Being told at a job interview that before they would hire any white people they were going to hire 65 african americans and 30 females to fill 100 jobs.

3. Being ambushed and having my head caved in by a black person because, and I quote, "I hate you white devils."

4. Making the mistake of walking from a training in Pekin Illinois to Pizza hut for lunch with two of my guys, one of them being black, and crossing paths with some dudes in bed sheets and pointy hats.

Not once, have I seen racism affect pay. Which was why I commented and asked the author for some articulable facts to support her essay, wondering if this was just another bs essay or not, considering how articulate and reasonable it seemed. the essay would have been tons better had there been some references to careers that suffer the issue she claimed, parts of the country, or specific civil cases challenging the disparities.

I'll agree with one thing, it's worthy of discussion if, and only if, the claims are supported by facts and not the liberal narrative that's used to control the black vote, and not out of Hollywood, where liberal actors seem to think that they're worth more than they are.