18.) Is affirmative action racist? It creates a dependent class, and enshrines the notion that
they are incapable of competing. Instead of creating diversity in colleges, it has become
typical for racial tensions to become more bitter, and for there to be even less inter- racial
interaction than when I was in college in the '70's. Furthermore, it encourages cynicism
about black achievement, since it is presumed that the game has been rigged in their favor.
Is the United States so racist as to require pervasive affirmative action programs? It has
been documented that West Indian immigrants, also the descendants of slaves, and also
black, fare much better than indigenous blacks. Some of the explanation is the self-
selection involved in immigration, but it certainly demonstrates that racism, while it exists,
is not the sole reason for black under achievement.
Has the victimization narrative undermined black achievement, reenforced by the belief
that they cannot compete, but must have someone give them things? Is the liberal
establishment in fact patronizing blacks by holding them to different standards, as when it
embraces an anti- semite and UFO theorist like Farrakhan? Are blacks demeaning
themselves when they embrace politicians like Marion Barry, and should liberals indulge
them? Food for thought..... |
