tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36980566.post1732041555104425368..comments2023-09-10T03:32:12.015-06:00Comments on Snax On Line | Books, art, food, film, and travel: A Continued Discussion about Racism in AmericaRosemary Carstenshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18078731575772645930noreply@blogger.comBlogger3125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36980566.post-67808100665543160312008-02-04T10:57:00.000-07:002008-02-04T10:57:00.000-07:00Thanks for the great post, Rosemary, why did it ta...Thanks for the great post, Rosemary, why did it take me so long to look at your blog? This is a great discussion, one that has become more apparent to me as my daughter attends Creekside, one of the few semi-diverse elementary schools in Boulder. This is great! CorinneAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36980566.post-17661979430956585022008-01-30T13:08:00.000-07:002008-01-30T13:08:00.000-07:00Thanks for your post, Karen. I think resistance on...Thanks for your post, Karen. I think resistance on the part of whites is no reason to give up on affirmative action. I think it's the best tool we have right now. We aren't post-racist or post-affirmative action yet.<BR/>I agree with something that is implicit in your post. I don't think we should send students into situations where the only thing backing them is the law or politics. They also need social support. To not offer other types of support to counter the negative views of affirmative action (i.e, he got in only b/c he's Black or Latino), is pretty cruel. We need to continue to work on deconstructing all those things that contribute to this perspective. Part of this should be (and in many colleges and universities is) geared for them. Part of this needs to come from white students, staff, and faculty becoming more aware of our collective racial history and the reasons for affirmative action, etc. and how they covertly may be reproducing discrimination in various ways.<BR/>Some students I know face racism and prejudice that act as barriers to real academic engagement and success. It's these types of things we need to change, not affirmative action. <BR/>A final note, many of the public cases, on the part of whites, against affirmative action argue against a continued essentialism. But where were they when people of color were (and still are) essentialized? <BR/>I think the debate about affirmative action has less to do with the argument that we've overcome or gotten beyond racism and discrimation against poor individuals and is more about some whites getting a taste of what others in this country have been dealing with for a long time. There is no biological basis for race, but it still is a huge force we need to deal with.<BR/><BR/>Christine WeeberAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36980566.post-70501318103613536162008-01-29T12:05:00.000-07:002008-01-29T12:05:00.000-07:00Christine stated that the discussion of reverse di...Christine stated that the discussion of reverse discrimination ignored "the preferential treatment many whites, males, and middle- and upper-class people have received since this country first formed." I do not ignore that fact. Anyone who knows any history is aware of that. I felt it was too obvious to state. My point was merely that replacing one form of discrimination with another only furthers the divide and continues the bad practice. Let me expand on an example I already mentioned. Reverse discrimination in college admissions. If someone of color is given added points to a test or given preferential admission just because of color, would he/she and others view him or her as worthy, or will it set that person up as one who has been treated differently (exactly what prejudice is)? Initially this was necessary for affirmative action to do its job - a jump start to correct. Now it makes some whites resent that their children are being pushed aside (due to limited enrollment) for others who may be less qualified though have a different skin color. This often fails. A higher percentage of less-qualified people of color enter the system with remedial needs and fail. This can't be good for self confidence (nor would knowing they were allowed in with lax standards)...and holds them back in the long run. Of course there will always be people of every color and socioeconomic class who will rise above their disadvantages and succeed. We need to stay aware of the past and yet move forward using today as a base. Another example: I suspect Obama was well qualified (equal or better, in fact) and didn't get added points to his SATs to get where he is. He and his family made the efforts to push education etc. (this is often cutural whether people want to admit it or not) That is the trick, excellent education from birth forward for parents and children so there is opportunity in the future that doesn't involve favoritism and continued racism. Should my bi-racial boys have race as an advantage getting into a college? In my opinion, no. KarenAnonymousnoreply@blogger.com