PARENTS SUE MARIAN CATHOLIC HS FOR DISCRIMINATION AGAINST BLACKS – IOTW Report

PARENTS SUE MARIAN CATHOLIC HS FOR DISCRIMINATION AGAINST BLACKS

4 kids tested positive for cocaine use and were expelled. The parents are suing because they say the testing is biased against blacks because there are more false positives associated with coarse black hair than blonde hair. I looked it up and there are plenty of articles that back up the claim. But looking deeper it’s because black coarse hair offers more results than blonde hair, so there are going to be more false positives, naturally.

A reader in the comments offered this interesting opinion and analogy-

There is…an important distinction to be made between cocaine itself and its metabolites (the chemical residues that are left after the body breaks down the molecular structure of the drug). A positive result for the presence of cocaine itself in the hair, urine or blood is more reliably indicative of drug usage than the presence of cocaine’s metabolites.

 

…you appear to be saying that the test is unfair because it is MORE accurate for African-Americans (and everyone else who has dark hair) than it is for fair-haired Europeans, given the claim that there is more of a chance of the cocaine failing to bind to the hair — and thus producing a false negative test result — of fair-haired people than dark-haired people. Would you then conclude that schools and workplaces shouldn’t test people for drugs because some small percentage of drug-takers (mostly fair-haired individuals) might escape undetected?

Let’s take an analogous situation. Facial recognition of white criminals in dim lighting is more accurate than facial recognition of black criminals in dim lighting. Does that mean we should do away with the prosecution of crimes committed in dim lighting just because it’s unfair that white criminals have a higher probability of being recognized and caught in those circumstances?

ht/ rob e.

11 Comments on PARENTS SUE MARIAN CATHOLIC HS FOR DISCRIMINATION AGAINST BLACKS

  1. If you have to chemically test for drug use, then using the drug is not the problem – testing positive is the problem.

    Follow me, here.

    The purported reason that drugs are bad is that they make you act foolish, or dangerously, or stupid. If you’re NOT acting foolish, or dangerously, or stupid – then what’s the fucking problem?

    If a student is acting foolishly, or endangering itself and others, or is being stupid, then – of course – check for drug (and alcohol) use. If the student is going about its business as usual, studying, and participating in class, and whatnot, THEN there’s NO problem UNLESS the drug NaZis make one.

    Random drug tests are a search for criminality where there is no obvious, objective evidence.

  2. Uh, from my days as a prosecutor, you only get the metabolite of the drug if you’ve taken the drug–the tests are generally for the first metabolic product to ensure it’s not confused with something else. Sounds like someone’s trying to blow smoke up our asses again.

  3. I was required to pass a drug test in order to be hired for the job I do. I had to sign a paper acknowledging I could be tested at any time for any reason to remain employed.
    Why should it be any different for students, welfare recipients, etc.?

  4. In 1969…7th grade gym class….The teacher was Del Tolin, who served in Korea and was a one time Olympic gymnast candidate, still wore a crew cut, took no nonsense….there were numbers along side the basketball court and you were assigned one…if it wasn’t covered up when he came by, then you were absent….Delford Simpson was jackin’ around and missed covering up his number….he confronted Del and Del told him that he wasn’t here….Delford responded “Mr. Tolin…you just don’t like us niggahs’ cuz we black”….12 year old little man saying that to a Korean war vet….we haven’t come very far in near 50 years and I don’t believe the race mongers ( white and black and yet to be determined?…) care that we ever do….enough…fix yourself…

  5. By your thought processes, why should policemen, firemen, and air plane drivers be subjected to random drug tests; absent a pattern of behavior suggesting drug/alcohol use.

    Perhaps those citizens are “second class.” Perhaps they are not “citizens” at all, but merely indentured servants, i.e. property.

  6. No one should be subjected to random drug tests. If the drugs don’t affect performance, then why do they need a test?
    Why do they allow cops to use drugs, and sell drugs, to combat drug use? Kinda fucked up.

  7. My position is that I don’t think the Department of Education (or other similar education bureaucracy) is qualified to administer and enforce drug testing. Look at what a good job they are doing with education.

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