I thought discrimination was over...

A group of African-American firefighters in Philadelphia has gone to federal court, alleging that the firefighters' union openly discriminates against its black members."The union's response is that there is no discrimination."

The lawsuit claims that members of firefighters' Local 22 has been racially hostile and at times abusive toward African-American members, including in comments on the union web site.

Attorney Brian Mildenberg is representing the black firefighters:

"There's just a constant teasing and taunting of African-American firefighters. That's on the Internet, and unfortunately it's spilling over as well into the actual union hall and union meetings."

Bob Bedard, spokesman for Local 22, denies the charges:

Mildenberg wants a federal judge to appoint a civil rights monitor.

The firefighters' case is similar to one filed about a year ago by black Philadelphia police officers who cited rampant discrimination and harassment in the department, including on an unofficial police web site called dome lights.com. That web site has since gone out of operation.

Why does so many people in the United States think that because a black president was elected that discrimination was going to magically disappeared? Unfortunately the bigotry and shallow minded thinking of some people still exist. I think that one could argue that my statement is false, but the KKK and skin heads are just 2 of the 926 hate groups scattered over the United States. America has came along way in how they treat people of color. Lets face it, people of color help to construct America and make it what it is. Discrimination is not what it was 20 years ago but it still is a way of life for some. Lets face it all you have to do is listen to some and watch others to figure out that discrimination, still is in full effect and it shows in how they act and how they act and treat people.. The number of discrimination cases in America has significantly dropped but lets face it, it is not over today, tomorrow and it will not end in the next 20 years. So don't be surprised that you will see more cases like this in the near future. As some people say " It is what it is".