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Presently, it might be a different story for minority hiring in some professions, but it has not always been the case. Some people were brought up with the mentality that they couldn’t get opportunities in the mainstream companies because they were from smaller ethnic groups as far as the overall population of the region was concerned. This meant that diversity in the workplace was impossible and some jobs were viewed as jobs for a specific class or race in the society. However, the government sought ways to enhance minority hiring and improve the ratios of different races and ethnic communities especially in professions that were previously a no go zone. This meant that the law required contractors to take up minority hiring as part of their job placement policies so that they could give equal opportunities to all and sundry. The main concern was how the rest of the workforce would take this move and whether it would cause an uprising or mass led demonstration.

As one small contractor charged with the responsibility of scouting for potential employees found out, the rest of the workforce does not have any problem with assimilation of other people into the job market. Sherman Turner tells about his experience when he started out in the field of plumbing. Through his book, Minorities Deceived, he documents how he got into the trade and the experiences working as a small contractor, who was expected to enhance minority hiring by working in collaboration with the big contractors. This opened opportunities for people to be assimilated into jobs originating from government contracts. This minority hiring process was a cycle that would see all parties benefit.

For example, the workers would join organizations meaning that unions would have a national outreach, while workers and their families would get sustenance. The government would get sufficient workforce and the big contractors would win more contracts. However, the main problem, as Sherman Turner discovered, was ensuring that the contractors would stick to the policies and minority hiring was never side stepped or overlooked. The concern was that contractors would walk out of the arrangement and this meant the needs and wants of the workers would be ignored and essentially, minority hiring would cease to exist.

This was in line with the increase in reports that workers were being discriminated and they did not find the working conditions conducive. When Sherman Turner was requested to take over minority hiring without being an intermediary to the big contractors, hell broke loose. The government through the Small Business Administration (SBA) had steered Turner’s work in ensuring the minority hiring process was functional. But when Turner was requested to work alone, it would not be possible because he did not have the resources or widespread coverage that would help him speak and reach out to all groups within the region. It was the only way to influence contractors to engage minority hiring as part of their policy when employing new workers. It is clear that minority hiring is possible as long as the parties involved have a large stake in influencing the employers.