April 18, 2008...10:11 am
Affirmative Action Hurts People
Many states right now are repealing their affirmative action laws under the interesting names on ballots such as the “civil rights initiative” in Michigan. People stated that they voted for these initiatives because they wanted to end preferential treatment laws. I agree with ending preferential treatment as much as the next guy but am wondering why there is no initiatives to end white affirmative action.
It is funny that when talking about preferential treatment we constantly look at affirmative action as if it is the quintessential poster child for preferential treatment. If affirmative action resulted in minorities getting so much preference then how is it that white people are disproportionately over represented in all aspects of life? Of course white people are the majority and will be the majority in almost all situations take employment as an example. According to the U.S. census unemployment for blacks is more than double that for whites.
Why are these blacks not in jobs since they have such great preferential treatment? Shouldn’t the majority of blacks be employed since with the preferential treatment they would have first pick of all jobs they applied for? Yet, of course blacks are the most unemployed group in the nation all the while being perceived as the beneficiary of some phantom preference which seems not to work very well. But one preferential treatment that seems to work every time and hasn’t ever been questioned nor had its own initiative on any ballot is white affirmative action.
Of course even approaching white affirmative action will net you an earful of insults as many white people as well as black will slither out of the woodwork to contest that this even exists. If it doesn’t exist then I guess they will be able to explain why whites are so prevalently over represented in most areas of life. I know that they will undoubtedly spew the same old rhetoric of “well blacks don’t have the education to compete”, “blacks don’t want to work” and “blacks just need to go to school.” Yet the people who ARE applying for these jobs ARE qualified, do have educations and experience.
It is funny that a lot of the people backing the repeal of affirmative action such as Ward Connerly who seems to have made it his mission to make sure the laws are repealed in every state. Connerly and others have said that affirmative action hurts minorities because it tells them that “we know you can’t make it so we will enact laws to do it for you.” Now the problem I see is that affirmative action doesn’t tell people they can’t make it, in fact it is the same old discrimination when they are the most qualified and still get passed over that tells them they can’t make it. How about we have a look at that practice?
According to the most recent reports, the states which have repealed affirmative action, have seen some of the lowest numbers of minorities getting a higher education and in professional employment since segregation. If affirmative action holds minorities back why then aren’t they succeeding at break neck speeds now that it has been repealed in those states. How come businesses in those states are becoming increasingly whiter? Is this an accident? Somehow the companies and colleges don’t understand that the repeal of affirmative action was because they (the schools and businesses) were going to bring blacks in without being told they had to? Well obviously they didn’t get that memo.
It seems that people are assuming that we need nothing in the realm of affirmative action at least for minorities anymore because people are NOT being discriminated against. And even if they are, that is not the reason for their lack of education or employment. Somehow the disparity that we have blazing brightly like a house burning out of control doesn’t matter.
Let’s pretend that everything is equal and that these disparities don’t exist because hey they aren’t burning down the house of the dominant culture so it doesn’t matter to America. When the burning house of the minorities who are being left out of the arenas of education and employment ignites the house of white America I guess we will see some change and probably not for the better. The affirmative action that hurts people have not been repealed, changed or looked at, instead they have ensured that it will continue unabated all the while repealing blacks from having any fighting chance in this race biased nation.
8 Comments
April 18, 2008 at 11:53 am
Connerly’s been very sneaky in his initiative. And unfortunately, Obama’s electability seems to strengthen his argument. At least in his mind.
You may be interested in this article.
April 18, 2008 at 2:40 pm
I like the cartoon. It makes a very important point.
It would be interesting to see how an IQ test written by an African or African American would differ from those written by white people. Can you help me to understand that concept?
In your post are you mixing up affirmative action and equal opportunity? There are already laws preventing discrimination in college acceptance, employment, housing, and in many other areas.
I’m sad to say this, but you might be right that discrimination occurs to often to do away with affirmative action. Still, it just doesn’t sound right in theory. If all people are equal, then isn’t it wrong to award anything to a person based on the color of his skin? If a white man and a black man are equally qualified for the same job, why is it any better that the white man not get the job than that the black person not get it?
Aren’t there other solutions?
If there are a limited number of spots for college enrollment or for a job, then how about picking from the most qualified candidates by a completely random method? How about starting more black colleges and black businesses? How about a black person striving to be more qualified than any of the white applicants, so that the company will be begging to hire him?
April 18, 2008 at 5:04 pm
Anonymiss,
Thanks for the links. I am going to re-read this info as I am constantly looking for more sites for information that I can introduce into my writings.
renaissanceguy,
I don’t think that the concept of the test would be different. BUT, if I were the dominant culture and I taught everything from MY perspective and your people had a history of shabby schools and thus shabby educations. Then pump hundreds of years of propaganda into you and your ancestors about their inferiority. Then gave you the test you probably would not pass or have the scores of people who do not start with a handicap.
Why is it that people automatically assume that two qualified applicants one black one white the choice goes to the black? When everything in this culture tells us and shows us that it more than likely would go to the white applicant. RACE should NOT play a part in the selection. But it does and the problem is how do we stop that.
It isn’t enough to say that we shouldn’t, because we DO. We have to have a way to stop this bias, a bias that leans white not black. Also, I am not confusing equal opportunity with affirmative action. Neither one works. You can’t regulate racism or prejudice.
People all over claim that they don’t see race or that they look at qualities not colors. Yet they are the head of a company and that company is all white or damn near. Maybe these people should be taking a closer look at these companies. But then people will claim THAT in itself is racist or unfair. We will not be able to achieve true equality while ONE race holds ALL the cards.
The problem with the white person getting the job over an equally qualified black is that, THIS IS HOW IT ALWAYS HAS BEEN AND STILL IS!!! How do people pick between two candidates when they are both the same color? Maybe we should find out then that will be what we do. When are we going to get an equal shot at the job. When all things are equal it seems to boil down to skin color. WHY??
Also, don’t you think that it is condescending to ask the black to be far more qualified for a job being done by someone less qualified? I don’t think that you would feel right if someone told you that in order to get the same job at McDonald’s that an uneducated black person has, you had to have a Master’s degree. You would be insulted. Think about it!
Thanks
April 18, 2008 at 8:58 pm
Solid post.
BTW, thanks for the visit and comment.
April 18, 2008 at 9:24 pm
This really is an excellent article! You should consider submitting it to the AfroSpear so more people can read it.
Peace
April 19, 2008 at 5:12 am
[Note to The Black Sentinel: please post this submission.]
Excellent article, and marvelous retort to the Renaissance Guy!
(Renaissance Guy? Are you kidding me? He sounds more like someone from the American Renaissance website. WARNING: that website, http://www.amren.com, is an EXTREMELY racist website, and your readership will find it very offensive; therefore, I recommend not to visit it.)
Intelligence Quotient (IQ) tests are rigged, and by extension, the Scholastic Aptitude Test (SAT) is also rigged.
That being said, I must add that an IQ test and the SAT can be “gamed.” What do I mean by that? Both tests involve calculation, geometry, computational algorithms, and vocabulary.
Calculation and geometry are well covered in honor courses in high schools, but the application of calculation and geometry in computational algorithms is probably never covered in high school. A student would need to know an Engineer or work as a Summer intern in an Engineering firm to get some exposure to the computation algorithms that may be encountered on the SAT or IQ test. One can easily see how this kind of exposure is inherently unfair to certain groups.
Vocabulary can be improved with a computer, dictionary software (with audible pronunciation of words), and good classical reading list. A student can read and lookup words on the computer for definitions and pronunciation; it is far more efficient than a paper thesaurus.
Several years ago, I took my first IQ test. I scored between 135 and 140. For comparison, an average law enforcement officer or an average fireman score at approximately 100; a lawyer or doctor scores at 120; a tenured college professor scores at 130. During my college years, my English professor and several of my Engineering professors asked me to join their respective departments — before I even earned my degree, so I am not surprised at my IQ score.
However, I am surprised that the IQ test and the SAT, in my opinion, are rigged against certain groups, as I stated earlier.
Renaissance Guy is a perfect example of a Caucasian who does not understand because his racist beliefs are just too ingrained in him.
Does he not know that in areas of college acceptance, employment, and housing that there is widespread “under the radar” racism?
I recommend to everyone: NEVER mark the box indicating your particular demographic on any college application. Leave everything pertaining to race blank. You may actually receive a telephone call from the college/university. If you do, try to speak as eloquently as possible.
As for employment and housing, there is no solution for now. Perhaps, in time, American Culture will change.
“…If all people are equal, then isn’t it wrong to award anything to a person based on the color of his skin? If a white man and a black man are equally qualified for the same job, why is it any better that the white man not get the job than that the black person not get it?”
– quotation from the renaissanceguy [sic]
History has not been equal; therefore, Affirmative Action is an attempt to put some right for past wrongs. What makes him think that circumstances are equal? More often than not, the Minority applicant is superior to the Majority applicant. I know I have always been.
Your readership may be surprised to know that during a job interview with five simultaneous interviewers, I was given the lowest mark of all applicants. The officially recorded reason — I spoke English too well. I SPOKE ENGLISH TOO WELL!
“If there are a limited number of spots for college enrollment or for a job, then how about picking from the most qualified candidates by a completely random method?…”
– quotation of renaissanceguy [sic]
This has already been tried. Guess who complained? A CAUCASIAN GIRL from a mostly Caucasian high school complained that it was unfair because a Hispanic girl from a mostly Hispanic high school was given entrance. The Hispanic girl was in the top ten percent of her class; the Caucasian girl was not. This may have been covered in the “60 Minutes” news show.
“…How about starting more black colleges and black businesses?…”
– quotation of renaissanceguy [sic]
That is just segregationist rhetoric.
“…How about a black person striving to be more qualified than any of the white applicants, so that the company will be begging to hire him?”
– quotation of renaissanceguy [sic]
I agree with The Black Sentinel; such a suggestion is condescending. I have rarely met a worthy Caucasian Engineer. Most Engineers in management have cheated their way — cheated by offering “gifts” (read: bribes), cheated by demanding “gifts” (read: extortion), cheated by taking undue credit for the work of their subordinates (read: Minority Engineers), cheated by nefarious activity (read: drug trafficking), and cheated by telling lies to customers.
There is little wonder why Engineering has left the United States of America and gone to China and India.
White Affirmative Action must come to an end. Let us all hope that can happen without the United States of America coming to an end.
Thank you for listening.
April 19, 2008 at 4:05 pm
The engineer,
Excellent reply. Do you have a blog of your own, as I would be interested in reading it.
Thanks for the reply.
April 19, 2008 at 8:36 pm
I enjoy your weblog very much, and I am glad if have made any positive contributions to your weblog.
I do not have a weblog — I guess because I really do not have too much to say.
I just abhor the indifference and insensitivity that is so common among Americans.
Thank you for listening.
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