So, for this hypothesis to be true we'd expect to see

1. A disproportionate number of people who are laid off being middle managers.

2. A disproportionate number of people who are laid off being white men.

Rather than speculating, go find the data. You'd have a great lawsuit on your hands! Until then, this is just ridiculous speculation.

Nobody who isn't a member of a minority group can get promoted anymore? Come on. Like, we do promotions all the time. People can look around and just see that this is false.