You're looking at Less Wrong's discussion board. This includes all posts, including those that haven't been promoted to the front page yet. For more information, see About Less Wrong.

fortyeridania comments on An attempt at a short no-prerequisite test for programming inclination - Less Wrong Discussion

4 Post author: ShardPhoenix 29 June 2013 11:36PM

You are viewing a comment permalink. View the original post to see all comments and the full post content.

Article Navigation

Comments (68)

Comments (68)

You are viewing a single comment's thread. Show more comments above.

Comment author: fortyeridania 30 June 2013 12:49:55PM 0 points [-]

The function of such tests was to invoke the grandfather clause

Are you sure? The Slate article did not mention that as the function. According to the test:

This test is to be given to anyone who cannot prove a fifth grade education.

The Slate article doesn't mention grandfather clauses either, instead saying:

The literacy test—supposedly applicable to both white and black prospective voters who couldn’t prove a certain level of education but in actuality disproportionately administered to black voters—was a classic example of one of these barriers.

Comment author: fubarobfusco 30 June 2013 09:17:24PM 2 points [-]

The Slate article did not mention that as the function.

The Wikipedia article I linked discusses this; this one mentions Louisiana's literacy test specifically.

The tests were never intended to verify mental competence or education; the grandfather clauses make this clear. Their purpose was to provide a pretext for disfranchisement of former slaves and the descendants of slaves.

Really. The past sucks.

"History is a nightmare from which I am trying to awake."

Comment author: fortyeridania 06 July 2013 01:28:28PM 0 points [-]

Oops. You are right.

Powered by Reddit Powered by Reddit