Diversity Thursday

Interesting. When does a reasonable and good-natured desire become naked racism, red in tooth and claw? Simple - you hand it over to the (D)iversity Bullies.

Florida Harbor Pilots Association Minority Scholarship

Each year, the Florida Harbor Pilots Association (FHPA) identifies two minority cadets who attend one of the six maritime colleges nationwide and show enthusiasm and aptitude for a possible career as a state pilot. Each recipient will be awarded a two thousand five hundred dollar ($2,500.00) scholarship during the school year. In addition to the $2,500.00 scholarship, each recipient will receive $500.00 for travel expenses to attend a training session with a state pilot association in Florida, where they will experience hands-on training so they are exposed to all aspects of a state harbor pilot’s career.

To qualify for this scholarship, the successful candidate must satisfy the following criteria:

Must be a “minority person” pursuant to s. 288.703(3), Florida Statutes (2008):

An African American, a person having origins in any of the racial groups of the African Diaspora, regardless of cultural origin.

A Hispanic American, a person of Spanish or Portuguese culture with origins in Spain, Portugal, Mexico, South America, Central America, or the Caribbean, regardless of race.

An Asian American, a person having origins in any of the original peoples of the Far East, Southeast Asia, the Indian Subcontinent, or the Pacific Islands, including the Hawaiian Islands prior to 1778.

A Native American, a person who has origins in any of the Indian Tribes of North America prior to 1835, upon presentation of proper documentation thereof as established by rule of the Department of Management Services.

An American woman.

Must have completed your first-year sea-term requirements and have a minimum 2.5 GPA.

Must be enrolled in one of the following maritime academies:

Massachusetts Maritime Academy, Maine Maritime Academy, S.U.N.Y. Maritime College, The California Maritime Academy, Texas A&M University at Galveston and U.S. Merchant Marine Academy – Kings Point

Planning to pursue a career as a state harbor pilot, preferably in the State of Florida.

Write a maximum 250-word essay explaining why you are interested in becoming a harbor pilot.

So, basically, you can be anyone EXCEPT a male who self-identifies himself as being of non-Iberian European extraction, Arab, Turkish, Persian, or "other" ethnicity considered by some as "white."

So residents of FL and those who are alumni of Massachusetts Maritime Academy, Maine Maritime Academy, S.U.N.Y. Maritime College, The California Maritime Academy, Texas A&M University at Galveston and U.S. Merchant Marine Academy – Kings Point; proud of being part of this?

Parents of mixed race children - ready to ask your kids to cut themselves in half, quarters, eights for a few pieces of silver? Is this the mentality you want to leave the generations that follow you?