Why are we the Americans today being held accountable for the discrimination of blacks and minorities?

Question

Why do we have to compensate for the grievances our ancestors committed by committing reverse discrimination in our affirmative action policy? It's absurd! Why can't we just get over it and STOP LIVING IN THE PAST?

Answer 1

Don't buy into your social studies teacher's propaganda. There is no such thing as reverse discrimination. Discrimination is discrimination

Answer 2

Yes, slavery happened over 140 years ago. I think that they ought to get over it. I mean, it was a terrible thing, and it should never have happened. I don't know of anyone who would condone it. But, contrary to what liberals want you to believe, it was a common practice in the world at the time. The U. S. was hardly alone in its use of slaves. And another thing - we corrected ourselves. Doesn't that mean something? And it wasn't like the African nations rose up to stop it. Hell, they were the ones selling their own into slavery. WHITE MEN were the ones who initiated the move to end slavery. They are certainly better off here than in Africa. Africans only seem to know how to get AIDS and oppress women. Millions of dollars are sent there to no avail. Throwing it down a rat hole. Those people benefited in the long run for being here.

Answer 3

Affirmative action is needed to provide diversity in schools and workplaces. Diversity strengthens long-term viability and profitability.

If we lived in a society where all americans had equal education opportunities, I would say affirmative action can fall by the wayside. The reality of the situation is, the poor urban families (read: black/hispanic) attend significantly inferior schools to suburban families (read: asian/white). This translates directly to lower test scores for blacks/hispanics than for white/asians, which leads to lower college admission rates, and lower paying jobs. The cycle continues, unless we stop it. Since education funding is largely based on property values, wealthy parents' children will always have an advantage, so affirmative action is here to stay, although it may not always be defined by race.

Believe me, as mixed white/asian, I understand affirmative action all too well. Had I put asian on my college applications, I would have gotten into less schools (obviously identical grades and test scores, it'd be the same person applying). It's hardly fair, but it is needed. The alternative is entire schools made up of asians and indians, with a minority of caucasians, and virtually no blacks or hispanics.

Edit: Children of wealthy african americans score no better or worse than caucasians of the same socio-economic class, indicating that the issue is one of class, not race. It just so happens that right now, most of the poor are black/hispanic, and most of the upper class are white/asian. That is why affirmative action is based on race (although it shouldn't be).

Answer 4

I do not know. But it seems everyone needs to blame some one for their predicdament. You know that Black vs. White stuff is so childish its getting old. Really. People need to grow up, over come obstacles in order for them to be completly accepted 100% . So buzz off, grow up and live life to the fullest. You can be only blamed for your own predicdament if you do not wanna change.

Answer 5

Well, if minorities today have a higher unemployment rate, earn less on average, constitute a higher percentage of the prison population and their representation in the education system is disproportionatly low is the problem yesterday or today?

Answer 6

ya i agree one hundred percent. and the reality is no one in my family was ever a slave owner. why should i be discriminated against with affirmative action. which by the way is the most racist policy ever. getting a job based on your race. ridiculous.

Answer 7

Because the liberal mindset is in full swing and that's what makes sense to them. Of course, to normal, logical people, that idea makes no sense.
But, please, don't tell them that they are being laughed at when they propose such foolishness, it might hurt their feelings and then have a real hissy fit. Just try and guide them in the right direction and hope that they grow up.

Answer 8

I am white, therefore the wrong color now days to matter much anymore to those in power. Racism sure took a wild swing to the opposite now didn't it? I thought MLK's whole purpose was EQUALITY for his children and the children of all colors. I think he would be dissapointed in how little we on a human scale have changed, it's stayed the same or reversed since his brave attempt to make the world a better place. How sad. Don't get me wrong, I think minorities for a long course of human history have gotten the short end of the stick, and still do to an extent, and that sucks. But at the risk of sounding inflamitory, I don't see where it is my personal problem or why I or my children should have to suffer for it because we happen to have been born white, or that we should be ashamed that we are caucasion. I have never owned or sold a slave, pointed water hoses or sent an attack dog on brave civil rights activists, hung a noose in a tree or burned a cross, nor do I have sheets hanging on my closet corner anywhere. I wasn't even a "twinkle in my dad's eye" when these atrocities of human nature took place. So I don't feel that I owe anyone anything for things that didn't even happen to them directly, but to a long gone ancestor who was sold to the white man as a slave by his/her own people, or a grandparent or parent maybe who was an active member of the civil rights movement for which I have the greatest respect-these folks have EARNED my respect. I see no one now who has done anything to EARN my respect much less make me believe I OWE them a darn thing or that I should be ashamed to be proud of who I am based on my color.I have no respect for people who shoot dead in the street thier "own kind" over drugs, turf, what color of hanky they have in thier back pocket or for a pair of shoes they want, nor does how loud thier car stereos can blare down my street in the middle of the night or how low they can wear thier pants without tripping on them around thier ankles. Making my kids come home from school crying and scared from thier bullying and threats of "bad things happening to them and thier mom" just because they are white. My kids now have a negative view of African Americans, after I spent years raising them to not judge based on color but on attitude, the very people I was teaching them to respect have made them just a bit racist, and have people thinking that I do have sheets hanging in my closet. Just like I am not responsible for slavery generations before my birth, I can honestly say that I am not responsible for my kid's new attitude. But we are the ones who get the "short end of the stick" now. After being diagnosed with a brain tumor and left unable to work and a husband with major back surgery who also cant work, we needed help. We got next to nothing. We struggle every day to keep above water, getting a pittance of food stamps and little else, yet when we stand in line behind the lady with the salon nails and salon hair weave that looks none to cheap, she pulls out her food stamp card and takes her purchases out to her brand new Escalade complete with spinners next to my 25 year old car. I guess I was just born the wrong color. But regardless, I refuse to fall into the lame and overused "oh, feel sorry for me because I am: black, mexican, asian, white etc etc etc. and give me everything I want because I am and I deserve it." I have busted my butt for everything I have, what little it may be, and will continue to do so. I dont owe anyone a dang thing and no one owes me a dang thing that I won't endeavor to EARN, regardless of my race. Am I racist? Do I think I am in any way superior to anyone? NO. I am proud of myself and my own accomplishments, and I happen to be white. Racist? No, I am an ATTITUDIST: If you have a bad attitude for any reason, I don't like you or respect you, I dont care what color you are.

Answer 9

Because you still pursue a rascist foreign policy and most blacks in your country are still very poor and pretty much slaves???

Answer 10

One word................LIBERALS.