Respond to the following hypothetical with a thorough analysis of the relevant facts as they apply to the law.

Cratchit worked as a staff accountant for Scrooge & Partners. Scrooge asks Cratchit to interview the applicants for an administrative assistant position, but tells him not to hire any African-American applicants. Cratchit reminds Scrooge that Title VII prohibits race discrimination, and Scrooge immediately removes Cratchit from the interview process and cuts his working hours from forty hours per week to thirty hours per week. Has Scrooge violated Title VII? Why? Is Cratchit protected by Title VII in this situation? What if Scrooge simply removed Cratchit from the interview process? Explain.