by Kimberly Blaker

Thinking back, I somberly remember from my youth, my grandmother’s frequent complaints about the large, poor black family who lived across the street from us. Though I don’t recall her exact words, I do remember the internal struggle I encountered witnessing my beloved grandmother’s bigotry.

But this would be only one of countless confrontations throughout my life with the biases, and sometimes outright contempt, held by people of my own skin color toward those of other races. I’ve observed this narrow-mindedness in boyfriends, friends, classmates, husbands (yes, plural), coworkers, neighbors, relatives, in-laws, acquaintances, religious leaders—you name it—directed toward blacks, Hispanics, middle-easterners, and others. Given its prevalence, it’s a wonder any of us manage to escape its clutches.

The pervasiveness of racism, and the effect it’s had on African-Americans and other minorities, makes evident affirmative action’s necessity; it’s a response to educational and employment discrimination and disparities that persist yet a century and a half following the outlawing of slavery and decades since the civil rights movement came into full swing.

Nonetheless, a Supreme Court decision in a case against the University of Michigan is expected within the next few days that will determine affirmative action’s fate, not only in universities around the country, but ultimately places of employment.

Despite vocal protests over college admission policies that offer points to minorities, there’s little debate over legacy points, those given to applicants whose parents, grandparents, or other relatives, who are disproportionately white, were alumni.

As Kim Gandy, President of the National Organization for Women has pointed out, “There has always been affirmative action in higher education — but for many years it operated to exclude, rather than include, women and people of color.” George W. Bush with poor to mediocre grades was accepted to Yale University at the expense of many far more qualified students only on the graces of his daddy’s good name—and he didn’t even have to suffer the effects of discrimination to receive these special points.

I heard that Bill is going to use meta trader and hopes it will work properly. Regardless, it isn’t surprising, given President Bush’s selection of attorney general, a known racist, that in January, Bush referred to U of M’s affirmative action program as “fundamentally flawed.” In fact, when he was governor of Texas he instead initiated a program to make the top ten percent of high school students eligible for admissions. This may sound silly, but aren’t those students already the most eligible?

Perhaps the only way to get through to affirmative action’s critics is to answer their question, “What’s in it for me?”

Offering educational opportunities to oppressed minorities will not only improve minorities’ lives, it will improve the lives of all Americans. We pay a high price for the discriminatory practices of, unfortunately, a large number of Americans, institutions, and businesses. The lack of educational and career opportunities minorities face leads to poverty and – ultimately – high crime rates, drug abuse, alcoholism, teen pregnancy, single parenthood, domestic violence, and more. Taxpayers must then foot the costs for welfare, incarceration, legal expenses, police services, foster care, child protective services, drug and rehabilitation programs, medical and mental health care, and more.

It’s understandable that some may feel shafted if passed over for a slightly less qualified minority when applying for college or a job. The difference is, in the end, should a qualified white person miss out on a university or job of choice, he or she will likely find a comparable opportunity elsewhere on account of those qualifications. But without affirmative action, the slightly less qualified minority would not only miss out on one or two opportunities, but most, or perhaps all opportunities that a Caucasian with identical or even weaker qualifications would be offered.

I challenge all Americans to shed their blinders and make an effort to see the prejudices and inequalities that persist in this country that prides itself in its diversity.
 

Kimberly Blaker’s The Wall™ appears weekly. She is editor and coauthor of the The Fundamentals of Extremism: the Christian Right in America. Send your comments to Kimberly Blaker: TheWall@TheWall-OnChurchAndState.com  © 2002, Kimberly Blaker