Growing up in Alaska was not the most multicultural experience a person can have but I can tell you this, everyone I knew (White, Black, whatever) would have been offended if anyone suggested that they needed 'extra points' based on their skin color to be successful in life.
It's downright stupid, damn wrong, to think that we need to classify people as being a minority or a majority and then create some kind of reward system based on this classification. This isn't a solution to America's race problem, it's the basis for credit card frequent flyer miles programs.
The University of Michigan (and anybody who believes skin rewards is okay) needs to wake up and start treating everyone with the same dignity and respect — easily done once they remove their head from their ass.
Join the fray by reading through and commenting at the end.
I completely agree with you. It's stupid.
i disagree.
It's not as simple as Dubya and company would like to make it. Skin privilege is alive and well and Dubya benefits from it on a daily basis. Programs like this would have never existed had not institutionalized racism existed in such a severe manner. Skin rewards? I exist in a world where it is considered far better to be white than the other I've so often checked on numerous forms. I have a degree that I worked three jobs while carrying a full course load to obtain all the while dealing with the assumption that I was either on scholarship or somehow undeserving of my place due to my skin color. Since my parents took into mind to give me a "non" ethnic sounding name, my qualifications get me job interviews until i walk through the door in my plain brown wrapper. Oftimes, I am the only chocolate chip in a sugar cookie in an office where i am then privy to such gems like "you speak so well, where are you from?"
People, in their ignorance, assume the worst.
Affirmative Action was put in place to see that "fairness" was exercised instead of racist policies. As someone who while attending college from 1993 to 1997 counted as the part of the 12% minority students in attendance, I would say we have long long way before the "equality" you speak of kicks in. I would love a world where my "merit" counts before my skin color as I know I have to work three times harder than my white counterparts often to no avail
Add to that fact, that in most parts of the country, socioeconomic factors keep a great deal of students from obtaining the education needed to be competitive at a college level.
George Bush is against affirmative action, diversity, equality and basic human rights. While I think the "extra points" idea is ridiculous, I also acknowledge the fact this case is being used to knock down a system that works, if only barely. A system that forces people to give consideration outside their limited frame of reference.
Affirmative Action would not be needed if racism did not exist. I'm 28 years old and my mother was of the first generation to be desegregated. My grandmother? She taught grades 1-12 in a one room schoolhouse where she was principal, teacher and groundskeeper during the "separate but equal" period. I think what's truly stupid is our collective ignorance and failure to educate ourselves about our true American history in order to move forward. Instead, we accept bastardized, washed down versions that keep us deeply snuggled in a comfortable web of lies allowing us to oppress others.
It wasn't so long ago that we held close in our American hearts and minds the racism we so quickly condem in other parts of the world.
Well I can see that you missed the point altogether. And thanks for assuming that you had it so much worse than I have.
I should delete your rambling essay but then there would be inaccurate assumptions that I favored one type of person over another.
Funny, I didn't think I took this to a personal level at all or missed the point. I merely relayed my experiences. If anything, I didn't ramble, although, I do apologize for leaving such a long response to your post.
To be a taddy bit more succinct, my point was although I think a "points" system is unfair, however, the REAL issue is that the michigan case is being used to attack affirmative action and the president is painting a picture that spawns reactionary opinions as opposed to getting to the real heart of the issue.
Again, my apologies, I was under the impression the comment feature invited debate. It was not my intention to appear beligerent.
*I forgot to add*
I don't recall saying I had it much worse than you. I do recall mentioning racism is alive and well despite efforts to the contrary. Again, none of this should be taken personally. Thanks for being fair and not deleting my post.
This is good reading. I encourage more of this kind of debate.
Ooh! A real dialogue...
I agree that programs like Affirmative Action imply that one race is "less-than" another. That's not an easy pill to swallow. But, what's the alternative?
I really, really want to believe most people are willing to treat all races with the "same dignity and respect" and afford them equal opportunities to succeed. However, my experience has shown that it does not happen with any widespread regularity; certainly not naturally.
Without these "quotas" would African Americans be more likely recognized and rewarded for their true talents and potential? I'm inclined to believe the racial disparity in education and income would worsen.
I am not "happy" with Affirmative Action. I wish it wasn't needed. But, I don't know of any other form of checks and balances. The only natural way I see this inequality resolving itself, is when "white" become a racial minority. That will be most interesting.