I'd agree that institutional racism is far more damaging than individual. I've been on the down side of 'positive discrimination'. A job was advertised internally in my local council, for whom I was working. I was not allowed to apply until certain grades had had their chance. No-one suitable was found during that stage, so it was re-advertised to the lower grades and I applied. I passed the written assessment with pretty high marks. I was appointed an interview, but the day before it, I was told the post had been filled. A colleague who had failed the written assessment got the job by pulling the 'you're failing me because I'm Asiain' card. No apology, no alternative post, no explanation was ever given to myself or the others who applied. The colleague was removed from the position after 6 months probation because she could not manage the work and it was filled without advertisement.

In this case, I suffered, the colleague suffered, the department suffered, the public suffered and the council suffered (blow to confidence, managerial pressures, failure to serve, closure of service, huge budget deficiencies and bad press due to removal of services). Not one person came out of that experience without at least one scar.

Giving someone a job on the basis of their ethnic background or sexual preference, rather than their ability to do the job well, will mostly end in disaster, either for the employer or the employee.

I have to say that my present employer manages these things much better. There is still the vestige of an 'old boy' network, but assessments and interviews are done on a much more even system. There are women in high positions, there are black women in high positions, there are white men doing the lower grade, manual work that is 'traditionally' that of 'ethnic minority workers'.

All people should be equally treated.

Don - I've had the same problem. My mother is in a wheelchair and when I took her shopping, the assistant always asked me if I needed help, but never her. She's never been the sharpest tool in the box but she's certainly not stupid and can speak for herself. I would take her to the checkout and then leave her there for the assistant to deal with. It's called the 'Does he take sugar' syndrome, one that I've always tried very hard to avoid. On one particular day I'd had enough of it and when asked the inevitable 'can I help her with anything' I replied 'I don't know, can she?' addressed to the assistant behind the one who had spoken.

LTS