It’s probably partly generational. I mean the old guard got pensions and we get wtevs.

People who aren’t in leadership often have no idea how to judge actual merit anyway. Especially among engineers who often develop very myopic views informed by their tech specialties. I am often gob-smacked by the incredibly stupid ideas otherwise brilliant engineers have about how the world works.

So sadly folks like your brother are probably feeling validated for their racist feelings right now.