Why are some white people threatened by affirmative action tactics?

Question

I know that not all white people feel this way but I was reading an article about the increase of black enrollment in higher education due to public assistance, and some of those in the forum were incredibly angry. I personally think that most things today have to do with class rather than race but I don't understand why some white people get so upset about affirmative action tactics...is it not enough that to be born white, male, and wealthy in America is a ticket for success? We all like to believe that we live in a meritocracy but it just isn't true.

Why do some whites feel so threatened? They are the MAJORITY, always have been and probably always will be. The civil rights movement was only about 50 years ago when EVERYONE started getting equal treatment...how can 50 years compete with over 300 years of whites being able to succeed without someone trying to tear them down?

I'm not racist, just stating facts...

As i mentioned, i personally think the US has issues of class more than race...i would love to get treatment based upon my achievements and not my race but you have to admit that there is a disparity...there was a study done a few years ago when identical resumes were sent out to employers, one had a white name, the other a "black name" and it was ALWAYS the white name that got called in for an interview...what does that tell us?

People here have said that whites have been turned down for a job because a less qualified minority was hired b/c of affirmative action...why do you automatically assume they are less qualified or lazy or incompetent? That would be like hiring a butcher to be a surgeon just because of affirmative action...what sense does that make and he wouldn't have the job for very long..

Answer 1

Hi. Thanks for your question. I'm more than happy to reply...

I am very much against Affirmative Action. Usually when I express this I am needlessly reminded that Affirmative Action also benefits women (or rather supposedly does). I am well aware of this. However, my opinion remains the same.

Programs such as Affirmative Action do nothing but continue to make race and gender an issue. How are we to ever move beyond race and gender based discrimination if society and our government continues to remain focused upon race and gender?

I have heard it said that Affirmative Action doesn't guarantee that a less qualified person will get the job. In my opinion, this is false logic. What do you think happens when a company (that hasn't met it's "quotas") interviews a number of applicants only to find that those who are women and minorities are less qualified than white men?

Even if Affirmative Action DID guarantee that only equally qualified people were hired, common sense dictates that preferential treatment is still going to be given to women and minorities at some point. Since it gives women and minorities preference in the hiring process, Affirmative Action is discrimination.... And discrimination cannot be fought with discrimination. To fight discrimination with discrimination is to employ the very thing that you are fighting against. It is to create a never ending cycle.

Another point- Rarely has there been, or will be, equally qualified job applicants. Common sense dictates that there will usually be something to "tip the scales" so to speak. In other words, there are usually SOME differences in qualifications between applicants.

Another thing to consider is this- Not only does Affirmative Action promote discrimination by giving preference, it also promotes discrimination by not "protecting" all minorities. Unless Affirmative Action can guarantee that there are equal numbers of each minority group hired by each employer, admitted by each school, and so on, it isn't accomplishing it's desired purpose and is discriminating against the very minorites that it's supporters claim are "protected". Also consider demographics- For example, if you assume statistics to be true (I don't, but that's another topic.) then there are some states in which hispanics outnumber whites (thereby making whites a minority in those states). Yet white males are not "protected" by Affirmative Action.

Either way you "cut" it, to say that Affirmative Action combats discrimination is a contradiction- Because it gives race/gender based preference, which IS race/gender based discrimination. And, as I said, discrimination cannot be fought with discrimination. I'll illustrate to make my point-- Due to Affirmative Action, there are instances in which women and minorities are hired by employers (and admitted to schools) but NOT based upon merit. And there are instances in which they are promoted too quickly (or to inappropriate positions). If/when these people fail, it is (will be) seen by many as confirmation of the inadequacy of their race/gender. This is, of course, a stereotype. Surely you must realize that stereotypes are the main fuel that ignites discrimination. The wheels of discrimination keep turning.

Before Michigan's anti Affirmative Action measures, two white students (Barbara Grutter and Jennifer Gratz), in 1997, were rejected to the University of Michigan's law school and undergraduate program simply because they couldn't earn the 20 admission points which were automatically awarded to preferred minorities. True, these are only two people. However, incidences such as this happen more often than you may think. In addition, while Asian Americans have historically experienced (and STILL experience) prejudice in America, elite universities hold Asian students to higher admission standards than other racial groups. Why are THEY not being "protected" by Affirmative Action? It's because Affirmative Action is born of prejudice. It's a program designed and implemented to keep society ignorant- to make society believe that our government is doing something to rectify discrimination. (But our government DOESN'T WANT TO RECTIFY IT. They would rather that our focus remain on things other than government corruption.)

Anyway.... On to the initial question--

"Why are some white people threatened by affirmative action tactics?"
----As far as I'm concerned (and many other white people), the issue isn't about feeling threatened. It's about fairness. It's about truly wanting equality for all people, which cannot be achieved via programs such as Affirmative Action.

"...but I was reading an article about the increase of black enrollment in higher education due to public assistance, and some of those in the forum were incredibly angry."
----Well, according to the California State University system, the total cumulative number of black students on each California university campus has increased (as has the graduation rate) since California voted ten years ago to ban the use of racial or ethnic preferences in university admissions. I'm sure you get my point.

"...is it not enough that to be born white, male, and wealthy in America is a ticket for success?"
----This is just one example of the types of statements that I resent. Being white doesn't predetermine that someone will be wealthy, and it surely doesn't grant one a "ticket for success".

"We all like to believe that we live in a meritocracy but it just isn't true."
----I concur wholeheartedly. However, in my opinion, Affirmative Action does nothing to change this.

"They are the MAJORITY, always have been and probably always will be."
----Being in the majority isn't the equivalent of being wealthy or having a "ticket for success".

"The civil rights movement was only about 50 years ago when EVERYONE started getting equal treatment...how can 50 years compete with over 300 years of whites being able to succeed without someone trying to tear them down?"
----300 years? I assume that you are referring to slavery. What has that to do with Affirmative Action?
----Firstly, many of the first whites who came to America came as slaves and indentured servants. Not only did whites own black slaves, but they owned white slaves as well. In fact, white slaves were rather popular among some folks since they were cheap. Owning white slaves was more economical because they consisted of the poor and unwanted. They were in huge supply. Black slaves, on the other hand, were expensive. Although they (black slaves) were treated cruelly, they were not used beyond the limits of human endurance as often as white people, because such would have been a waste of a HUGE investment. Additionally, free blacks owned both white and black slaves. We aren't taught these things because "the powers that be" don't want us to be aware of them. But a little research will tell you the truth.
----Secondly, there are no people alive today who participated in slavery in the United States. There are no living victims, and there are no living slave owners. In fact, as someone else so kindly pointed out, the ancestors of the majority of whites in the United States came here AFTER the Civil War. Therefore, slavery is not a valid reason for Affirmative Action.

"People here have said that whites have been turned down for a job because a less qualified minority was hired b/c of affirmative action...why do you automatically assume they are less qualified or lazy or incompetent?"
----That same question can be asked of minorities. Why assume that you are refused a job simply because of your race? Why do any of us assume that anything is based upon race? Unless we have proof, how can we conclude that race discrimination is the culprit? We don't know why blacks are over-"represented" at some schools and whites at others. We don't know why blacks dominate professional basketball while whites dominate professional tennis. We don't know why there are more Japanese in the electronics industry and more whites in theology. (These are, of course, just examples.) We don't have the answers, so how could we conclude that race based discrimination is the reason? The answer is a resounding "WE CANNOT!"

"...there was a study done a few years ago when identical resumes were sent out to employers, one had a white name, the other a "black name" and it was ALWAYS the white name that got called in for an interview...what does that tell us?"
----It's irrelevant. For each study done, there is another and another and another. And they all have varying results. How are we to conclude which ones accurately portray the state of things? How are we to conclude which ones are closest to the truth? We can't. The particular study you speak of-- I'm curious to know how many subjects were used. How many employers were sent resumes? And how many resumes were sent? 50? 100? 500? 1,000? 10,000? How many? How many employers/resumes is it that you think represent the millions of people in this country?

Bottom line: Affirmative Action doesn't work and never will, because Affirmative Action = Discrimination. PERIOD.

By the way, I want to mention disability since the disabled are "protected" by Affirmative Action-- There is absolutely no reason why the disabled should get preferential treatment either. While it's sad that there are those who are less able than others, they should not be afforded preference in the hiring or admission processes. Disability limits preformance (depending upon the particular disability and the task at hand), therefore it is reasonable to permit employers to hire (or not hire) the disabled, or to permit schools to admit (or not admit), the disabled according to qualifications / requirements / criteria. It's a matter of qualifications.... And, if the disabled don't "fit the bill" then they shouldn't be hired/admitted, just as anyone else who doesn't "fit the bill" shouldn't be hired/admitted.

Answer 2

Hello,

I think some white people are indifferent to affirmative action and pay little heed to it... until they are refused a job or class position and are given that particular reason.

Regards,

Michael Kelly

Answer 3

You need to do your homework first off- a white male is the worst thing to be right now.
Second of all- whites are the majority right now but are projected to be the minority in 10-12 years.
Third off I don't feel threatened by affirmative action, quite honestly it ticks me off. I know more white people that have been turned down for jobs or turned away from programs because they aren't a minority. Also I am really sick of hearing how I owe the black community something because of slavery....guess what there is history and proof of slavery in every nation and with every race- meaning your ancestors probably enslaved some one else.

How about instead of complaining about it, you go and fight for the rights of people who are enslaved right now-

I'm not racist, I'm a realist

Answer 4

Not all whit epeople are born 'wealthy' and with 'tickets for success.' Get out from under that rock.

Also, white people may NOT always be the majority. The rapid influx of immigrants may soon be the cause of that.

(I have nothign against immigrants, it's just true)

Answer 5

Affirmitave action does not threaten me, it does however anger me. People should be able to stand on their own merits, it is not fair that a white person with better credentials gets turned down for something because the government says we need a minority to fill this space even if they are not as qualified as the other candidates.

Answer 6

I am not threatened by it nor do I care if it is abolished.

Simply put, your people cannot expect to be equal so long as affirmative action is in place. It is unfairly bias towards one single race.

I was not born wealthy, I have never been handed anything in this life. I have never stolen anything. I worked my butt off for what I have today, and other races should do the same without special treatment.

You make it sound like white people are born with a silver spoon in hand, and that is somewhat ignorant. However African Americans do have some silver spoons in place and the sick part is that it is sponsored by the U.S government.

Can you not make your own way in life? Must you have "special" treatment.

Answer 7

Affirmative action, if it ensures equal opportunity to black, brown, and white people, is good.
But like all things that are good, it has become corrupted, and now it is practiced like how the Pharasees practiced the Torah.

Now, in present day practice, Affirmative action only serves to ensure that irresponsible, lazy, and corrupt get into positions deserved only by hard working, honest and responsible persons.

This is reducing the standards of all the institutions and countries where Affirmative action is practiced.

For many years in a row, American Olympic teams are dominated by Black athletes. If, to give equal opportunity to whites, we chose more white athletes instead of better black athletes, how would America fare at the games?

Answer 8

Being born a white male these days makes you the scapegoat for everything that goes wrong in every other person's life. It is apparently MY fault that slavery happened, my fault women do not make as much money as men with the same job, my fault someone doesn't try to get a job.
Being born wealthy still gets you instant success..... but thems the breaks.
I am a white male and I can tell you I've had plenty people trying to tear me down on my way to being successful. I've had to fight tooth and nail. I've struggled, I've lived in a tent in a state park, I've eaten egg noodles and tuna for months at a time. Still I can guarantee that someone out there is going to look at me where I am now and say it was all handed to me because I am white and male.
So, why do some whites feel so threatened? Because sometimes we are legally banned from getting hired because the company we're applying for doesn't have the right percentages. We can't get hired because that will upset the balances and get a company fined. Its hard enough getting a job and there are plenty of poor white people who need them just as much as anyone else. Having one more obstacle in the way of getting hired is frustrating.

Answer 9

Affirmative Action is racist. You think it is ok to be racist towards others?

Answer 10

they are scared that affirmative action will screw them out of something

Answer 11

cause to some people we are evil people who dont deserve anything and should starve.