I take exception to David Cooper’s op-ed, “Race debate is misguided,” on Nov. 1. I agree with him that affirmative action fails to address one source of disparities – namely, the poor quality of schools for many minority children. However, if Cooper believes that eliminating poverty and inferior schools will overcome all structural barriers to higher education and professional jobs for underrepresented minorities, he is sadly mistaken. In the United States, we have a long history of racial discrimination and bias. Studies indicate that significant racial bias still occurs in hiring, loan applications, policing, sentencing, executions, youth extracurricular opportunities and social settings like clubs, associations and marriage – even after controlling for income.
Yes, it is important to take into account students’ disadvantaged economic backgrounds and other issues, such as serious illness or disability, or death of a parent, in admission decisions to try to level the playing field for applicants. But until we can prove unequivocally that racial bias is dead, affirmative action can also assist in achieving increased diversity and fairness in admissions and hiring.
No one cares anymore. We’re tired of crying leftists!
Why are those white liberals shedding no tears for Asians, who are victims of racism just as much as any other race is? Have you fools forgotten about Alexandra Wallace’s rant against Asians? Until liberals produce a poll that asks Americans whether they hate Asians, Hispanics, or African Americans the most, then affirmative action will always be unfair.
Affirmative action is from the 60s, it’s old school racism against whites. Nobody wants it except the radical left.
“In the United States, we have a long history of racial discrimination and bias.”
Yes, we still have it today and it is called reverse discrimination.
“Studies indicate that significant racial bias still occurs in hiring, loan applications, policing, sentencing, executions, youth extracurricular opportunities and social settings like clubs, associations and marriage – even after controlling for income.”
Correlation does not mean causation. For instance, a lower rate of extracurricular participation does not mean we are keeping minorities out of extracurricular participation. You cannot claim this as a fact unless it is proved.
And finally, assume that “racial bias” still exist to minorities, why doesn’t discrimination against Asians not considered? Affirmative action is a racist policy to establish a “better racial school profile” after all.
I’m glad that the author linked to studies. Whether or not the studies prove racial discrimination can be debated, but at least it starts a rational conversation. This is the most constructive article I’ve read so far on affirmative action in the DB.