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[sleepdeprived]

I'm sure many folks read the story that was in the newspapers this past year about how a study showed that when Antwan and Brad have the same exact resume, Brad's application gets more interviews.  How does this work in academe?  Do you experience the same prejudice as in industry?  Or do you actually get more interviews because you are viewed as a possible AA-candidate? 

I ask because I am quite obviously white in person, but I happen to have a "black" name (which I love and will never ever change).  I also have a few publications on my CV related to African-American studies though it's not my primary field.  More than once I've met someone who knew me only on paper and they've said, sometimes with disappointment, "I thought you were black!"

I'm particularly interested to hear from search committees on how you think this will ultimately affect my applications and whether I need to (or even could) do anything to avoid disappointing HR departments who want to check a certain box. 

I guess I'm afraid of 1) prejudice making my application unsuccessful and 2) "diversity" making it successful but for the wrong reasons.

[mountain_ivy]

At my CC, assuming your credentials were even marginal, your name would almost guarantee that your application would certainly make the first cut.  Although Equity/Diversity office swears we're supposed to be even-handed, we also know that they want "diversity" so we do assume that some names suggest ethnicity.

We've always been delighted with such candidates, and never held it against them that Equity/Diversity won't be able to check off a box.

[avantgarder]

I actually had an interview in which one of the search committee members expressed surprise that I am not an ethnic minority. I am very anglo, in fact. But because I have published in ethnic literature (a sub-specialization of mine, not my primary area) and because my last name could be taken as an ethnic one, one of the SC members actually made a remark about me not being black or Native American during my interview. I had two interviews at MLA that year, and I thought that my interview with the school that thought I was an AA candidate went better than the other interview, and yet I scored a campus visit with the second school and not with the school that hoped I was ethnic. I distinctly left my first interview knowing that the SC was disappointed that I wasn't black or American Indian.

Interestingly, I did apply for an ethnic studies position (and was hired), and that committee originally thought I was ethnic, too. So I think having an ethnic name--at least in my limited experience with interviewing in a competitive MLA field--does help at the inital interview stage.

[losemygrip]

The name along with the work in ethnic studies can arouse interest, that's for sure.  But these days it's not all that unusual to find whites working in black studies and blacks in Asian studies, etc.  (Rare, but not unheard of.)  We've had this happen a few times, and we just sort of raise eyebrows and shrug afterwards to acknowledge mild surprise, and go on.  But it does attract notice, since it's true everyone's trying to attract minorities. 

On the other hand, I'm sure there are a few socially retarded faculties that would actually be biased against the applicant for the same reason.  It probably all balances out.

[alabama]

I am in this exact situation.  I have actually had people express disappointment upon meeting me that I wasn't the ethnicity they had assumed.  I didn't get that job.  I later found out that they actually had found a diversity.  No problem.  If a department is set on making a diversity hire there is nothing you can do.  It has probably helped me generate interest.  By and large (since I have been offered several positions) I don't think showing up and being the "wrong" ethnicity has hindered my career chances.  You can't blame them for wanting a good hire that diversifies their faculty.  They should strive for that.  The flip side of that is that if you are a good candidate--you are a good candidate.  Good candidates that persevere get jobs.

[offthemarket]

In my field, there's a huge leg up for AA faculty job candidates, simply because they are such a rarity.  Diversity and inclusion are valued - as are role models for students.  It's definitely weird that nearly all people with PhDs in my subfield are white, when are students aren't.  That's something to be fixed and folks are working on it.

You've got to be the best candidate to get the job, but a search committee would definitely be interested in interviewing someone with a minority background and a CV showing competence or potential.

[hollow_man]

At least in my field, some searches are explicitly "diversity hire" searches. The biggest white male star in the field could apply and he would not get the job. Maybe in some of these other fields mentioned, too.

The problem you have is that the SCs may be wasting your time (and theirs) because they think you're a minority and have no intention of hiring a non-minority. Not a good situation. Sometimes the language of the listing subtly makes it clear, in my field. But if you're in Af-Am studies, then all the listings may read that way.

[blackbart]

I guess I'm afraid of 1) prejudice making my application unsuccessful and 2) "diversity" making it successful but for the wrong reasons.

My experience on search committees leads to believe that #1 is not a reasonable fear at most schools, and if #2 comes to pass, who cares? If you've got a name that creates extra interest for whatever reason, why worry about it? You won't be offered a position BASED on your name, but if that name garners you some extra attention in the early stages of the game, for whatever reason, more power to you. (I've been told that my middle initial, which is unusual, "pops" at the top of my CV and helps people remember me. If it's really true, I'm not gonna feel bad about it!)

[offthemarket]

(I've been told that my middle initial, which is unusual, "pops" at the top of my CV and helps people remember me....

Is it a greek letter like sigma or something?

[mischt]

I assume all these questions pertain to the first cut.
In my experience in Canada recently I was contacted by 2 separate people who each asked me to fill out a form on which I self-identify as a person in one of several categories which would make me eligible for affirmative action. Don't you have that in the US?

[offthemarket]

Many, but not all schools, will send you one of these forms in the US.

Filling it out is voluntary and they typically go to the HR office and are not associated with an applicant's file.  In the job search files I've looked at in three different departments, I've never seen this race ID card in there, so it couldn't be used in vetting.

[blackbart]

(I've been told that my middle initial, which is unusual, "pops" at the top of my CV and helps people remember me....

Is it a greek letter like sigma or something?

It is now!

[locutus]

I ask because I am quite obviously white in person, but I happen to have a "black" name (which I love and will never ever change).  I also have a few publications on my CV related to African-American studies though it's not my primary field.  More than once I've met someone who knew me only on paper and they've said, sometimes with disappointment, "I thought you were black!"

OP we might be reverse twins. I'm black but my name is as Anglo as humanly possible. Think Bradley Wordsworth Rockefeller IV.

We could trade just so people aren't confused. ;)

[larryc]

A grad school friend had a Hispanic last name via a distant Basque ancestor, but was a white bread as they come. And he had worked for the Republican leadership offices in a state legislator--which because the Democrats were in the majority had a name something like "The Minority Office." He highlighted both things on his application materials.

And yet I don't think he ever landed a TT position.

[hollow_man]

A grad school friend had a Hispanic last name via a distant Basque ancestor, but was a white bread as they come. And he had worked for the Republican leadership offices in a state legislator--which because the Democrats were in the majority had a name something like "The Minority Office." He highlighted both things on his application materials.

And yet I don't think he ever landed a TT position.

Being a Republican must have been a dead giveaway that he was white.