Sunday, October 28, 2007

Affirmative Action

Sunday, October 28, 2007
I have strong opinions about this, but want to read your thoughts before offering mine. Eventually, I'll edit this to include what I have to say.

Question: Is affirmative action an out-moded crutch used by minorities to gain an unfair advantage or is it a necessary social program that very much has a place in modern America?

10 comments:

Anonymous said...

Affirmative Action is very much a necessary social program and I happen to believe that individuals who believe it isn't are out of touch with reality; provided by "Affirmative Action" you're referring to the program as it was originally intended (to counteract the imbalance imposed on society through the discrimination of racial minorities) and not as what it has seemingly morphed into (a benefit to the American white female).

Despite the proclamations of social progress many seem impassioned to declare, we (as a society) haven't made as much advancement as we'd like to believe.
The fact of the matter is that those prejudices held not too long ago, still exist. As a society, we have to remember that the Civil Rights Movement took place not more than 60 years ago. For some of us, that is within our parent's lifetime. The effects of the racial discrimination ingrained in our society continues to plague our country and is made apparent in the economic, educational, and representational disparities between people of color and white Americans.

Genarlow Wilson, the Jena 6 (not them as individuals, but as examples of an unfair justice system; my opinion of them aside from that isn't quite as positive), Sean Bell, Hurricane Katrina, the coverage of missing people in terms of white and black; they are all evidence of that continued prejudice and they aren't even the tip of the ice berg. Most of us Black Americans can point to situations that occur in our own neighborhood that haven't received media attention as evidence of the racism and prejudices that still exist.

So is Affirmative Action in its current state necessary? No.
But is Affirmative Action in the form of its original intention still necessary? Absolutely. I would almost argue that it's more necessary now than 20 years ago.

Unknown said...

As long as minorities are NOT the individuals in power, affirmative action is necessary.

Mr. Jones said...

17 y/o - I really couldn't havr said it better myself. Please come back often.

Cocoa - Exactly.

Darius T. Williams said...

I think it's really a bit of both. It all depends on what side of the spectrum you use to look at the scenario...but, it's worked in my favor.

Dayne Avery said...

As long as it is used as intended, which often times it's not. One thing it shouldn't be is a crutch. I'm all for the best person for the job. One shouldn't be over nor under looked.

bLaQ~n~MiLD said...

LoL Mr_Jones Imma fight you! I read your comment to my own on His_Story and am preparing to offer my opinion on the subject. Check my spot for a post is forthcoming.

~Damnit!

One Man’s Opinion said...

I don't think it is out moded...I will say that Affirmative Action is more of a crutch that white people use as an excuse for not getting what they what in the corporate world. That's just me....

Anonymous said...

Affirmative action presents sub-standards that perpetuates inferiority, which is why our Black community cannot succeed. Unfortunately, our hispanic counterparts will bypass us in becoming equal before we will. It is amazing how other cultures can come to America and be a minority in number, but in culture, ethics and standards, they are considered equal above us.

Therefore, ask yourselves, is restoring the original focus of affirmative action helping us up or keeping us back? In my humble opinion, it should be dismissed!

yet another black guy said...

it's been a little over 40yrs since discrimination was successfully demonstrated against. that's basically a couple generations. how much has really changed?

it seems we've been bamboozled by some success stories and and big words. take a look around America and the answer's quite clear.

admin said...

17 year old man took the words right out of my mouth.

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