Can a personal taste "preference" for a particular race or skin color lead to racist behavior?

Question:

Most people are reluctant to consider themselves as being racist- for example, if a person only dates men/women who have a certain skin color, that person will most likely state that he/she is not racist, and that it is simply a matter of personal taste; Now picture this same person in an important position somewhere in a human resources department, with lots of responsibilities, the most important of which is to make hiring/firing decisions. What keeps this person's " personal preferences" for this or that skin color from influencing his/her decisions to hire and/or fire employees who do not have the skin color of preference? Would "personal preference" not be analogous to racism in this case? Where and how does one draw the line?

Answer:
I have worked in HR for over 15 years and while I can only speak for myself, I do know that if you consider yourself a professional in Human Resources, you check all your personal biases, preferences or whatever you want to call them at the door to your office. An HR professional will never let such things be a part of the ethical decision-making that is required of them.

Additionally, if an employee ever encounters such behavior from their HR Department, they should contact their company's ethics hot line.

Most people understand that black ppl just want the same things we want. Good job, nice car and a white woman. I dont think personal preferences would influence a nig on the job, but you never know.

racist is an overused term ... acknowledging or prefering physical contact with ur own race isnt being wrong ... actively blaming or persecuting another race because you think ur better than them or they are the cause of ur problems is wrong ...

Ethics prevents personal preferences from spilling over into one's professional activities. Personal preference is not racist. It's called 'Freedom of Choice.'

If HR is your job you should never let your preference make these decisions for you. You are not very professional if you do.

these days, it would probably considered as such. i don't think so.

There is a difference in what you personally want. And what you profesionally want.

The only decision that I believe they can make based on anything... would be how would they make the company look. If you have a nicely dressed black guy, he keeps and image to the company, and if you had a trashy dressed black guy, he adds a negative image to the company. I don't think that color has much to do with hiring becasue of the restrictions and the civil rights people to fight for them.

Legally you can't pick someone because of their color, but what you personally do, is up to you.

I'm still waiting for the day someone sues someone, and wins, becuse they found out that the person they liked, didn't like their natonality or skin color.

Can a personal taste "preference" for a particular race or skin color lead to racist behavior?

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