Equal Opportunity Essay

In this short story, Equal Opportunity, written by Walter Mosely, nonage Socrates Furtlow, faces the dilemma of getting a job. Socrates is an ex-con, having served 27 years in prison. enchantment drunken, he killed twain of his good friends, and now lives life as a bumb who goes around collecting bottles and cans for a living. This story tells his struggle to find goodish wee-wee as a black art object in b either club because of his background. Because there were no jobs in Socrates neighborhood that would hire him, wise to(p) of his background, purpose a job was a complicated task for this African-American, 58 year-old hu earthly concern race who hadnt solveed in 37 years.As Socrates travels approximately 14 miles, 3 charabanc transfers from his apartment in Watts, S forthh Central, Los Angeles, he arrives at amplitude Supermarket to try and get a job. As he enters the store, he wondered what the workers would conceptualise of him working there surrounded by m wizardy b ecause of his prison background. Socrates, though was a murderer, not a thief During his job search at Bounty Supermarket, he attempted to retrieve an application. Being a man of his stance, he had already practiced how he would attempt to ask for an application.Anton Crier, protagonist store manager of Bounty Supermarket, was a young white male who Socrates interacted with during his prototypic visit. Anton was reluctant to give Socrates the while of day, mainly because of his appearance. Antons first uncertainty to Socrates was Uh. How old are you sir? As an ex-convict, with the stereotype of knowing the law, Socrates knew that this question was a violation of is covers for Equal Opportunity, and he surely informed Anton.Socrates verbalise to him the law of discrimination, equal opportunity, and his right to basically be given a chance and to at least to turn an application. Determination allowed Socrates to demand his right to fill out the application and wait for a reply , based on the information submitted on the application and simply not his race by and by he turned in the application with a borrowed pencil Anton loaned him, he informed Anton and the store manager Halley Grimes of his dilemma of not having a phone, besides an address where they could write to him he results of his application.He had to explain to them his address was valid because they were already going trying not accept it based on the fact he did not have a phone . He also questioned them nearly an information section on the application about his ability to travel to work. The question asked if he had a car? Although he didnt, he didnt mind victimisation the public transportation (RTD -Rapid Transportaion District) bus route. Over a five day period, Socrates proved to them both his willingness to work and get there on time even if he was using the bus.He arrived at the supermarket for those five days straight on time, and originally 930am. On the fourth day, Halley inform ed him his application had not been veritable and that she had thrown the fax away stating his denial. Unable to produce proof, Socrates called the main mail service himself, finding out his application was never submitted. In the midst of all this, Halley had also reported that Socrates was a threat to her and was afraid that he would do her harm because of him coming in all the time demanding his application results, knowing that she hadnt submitted them.So that fifth day when Socrates came to the supermarket for an answer, he was approached by two gentlemen in lieu of his business there. He was called into the managers representation and then was asked explained to the men, Mr. Parker and Mr. Weems his situation. Surely as they thought about his rights, end up offering Socrates a job at one of their other locations. As Socrates faces dilemma in his position as a black man during the Harlem Renaissance period, he ultimately succeeds in doing what he set out to do.. find a job.A s honorable as Socrates claimed he would be while trying to get this job, he ended up lying in the end about another question on the application he had missed. That question is the one who would identify him as a felon for his past mishaps. As appreciation for Moselys short story, one must believe that Socrates and many other African-Americans struggled to be successful, and to survive during this time period. This story tells the struggle of a man who just wanted to work to survive, and that knowing his rights and acting on them with patience and non-violence helped him get what he wanted eventually