Racism and America

swchandler · Joined: 08 Nov 1993 Posts: 10588

It been many years since I was in K-12 schooling, but I seriously doubt that things have changed that much. Some kids in school do very well, while some at the other end of the scale don't do well at all, but the greatest percentage fall somewhere in the middle. Also, for many different reasons, not all students get their act together during their K-12 years, or they just might not get the kind of parental leadership and have the financial support necessary to easily move on to a 4 year college or university. That's why community colleges offer an important stepping stone for many to get the kind educational background they might have missed to get ahead in their lives.

I can easily see a less than stellar minority student in high school ultimately get their act together and do quite well academically through a 2 year community college program. With an affirmative action type program in the mix, particularly for those that lack the financial support to attend a top college or university, many can have the opportunity to be successful and meet the challenges competing with the best. If they can't, we all know that they will fall behind and ultimately drop out. Yet, it's a worthy gamble. If the truth be told, I think that many minority folks have been able to leverage success with the help and assistance of affirmative action policies, and that we as a society benefit from that success.

As you probably know, whether you like it or not, America is quickly becoming a more diverse society where it's important that everyone has the opportunity to get ahead. Thinking that we don't need to help those most in need would be a mistake. As I see it, I'm not too worried about the most accomplished students getting into Ivy League colleges and ultimately getting ahead. Although they might not be accepted into Harvard because some minority student got their place in line because of an affirmative action policy, I'm sure that they will find a place at another outstanding university of a similar caliber. You don't always get what you want, but usually you get what you need.

KGB-NP · Joined: 25 Jul 2001 Posts: 2856

Hypothetical situation (or not ) —
Dirt poor white kid and dirt poor black kid with equally poor grades both apply to same school with affirmative action policies. Who gets accepted and who gets discriminated against?

swchandler · Joined: 08 Nov 1993 Posts: 10588

NP, what I remember from my college days is that poor folks got an opportunity through work/study programs. I seriously doubt that those type of programs have simply vanished.

mac · Posted: Tue Mar 19, 2019 2:44 pm Post subject:

Ancient white rage. The Supreme Court outlawed naked affirmative action. Some programs allow diversity to be a factor in admissions.

It's amazing how when the news shows rich white folks cheating to get into top colleges, or endowing chairs to get their underperforming kids into schools, the "non-racists" in the forum pivot to affirmative action. Can any of you "non-racists" explain that? It sounds amazingly like white privilege to me.

nw30 · Posted: Tue Mar 19, 2019 2:59 pm Post subject:

mac · Posted: Tue Mar 19, 2019 3:33 pm Post subject:

That's your explanation? Have they burned your school yet?

nw30 · Posted: Tue Mar 19, 2019 6:06 pm Post subject:

mac · Posted: Tue Mar 19, 2019 7:09 pm Post subject:

KGB-NP · Joined: 25 Jul 2001 Posts: 2856

nw30 · Posted: Tue Mar 19, 2019 7:36 pm Post subject: