Here's a litmus test for Barack Obama: where does he stand on racial preferences? If he's for them, then how can he claim to be a national unifier? What country bases its rule of social justice on attempting to figure out whose ancestors did what to whom?
A generation ago, racial preferences were arguably necessary for African Americans, especially in the South, to kick in the closed door of segregation and Jim Crow. But then other groups (women, Hispanics, immigrants, gays) climbed aboard the affirmative action bandwagon, absurdly proclaiming, "We are the new blacks." To which the answer is: are you the descendants of slaves? Can you begin to show a comparable history of suffering and deprivation as African Americans?
Today preferences based on race, gender, national origin and sexual orientation have largely become a scam. In elite colleges, for instance, they are a way for Jesse Jackson's kids to get an unfair advantage over poor white kids with better grades and better test scores. On those same campuses, women with lesser qualifications especially in the sciences are routinely hired as teachers over men who are more deserving. What could be more divisive, and more infuriating, then such policies of official race and gender-based discrimination?
Obama can launch a national debate, and give substance to his pledge to be a uniter, by saying: It's time for America to become a post-racial society. This doesn't mean that racism has ended or that as a social reality "race doesn't matter." But the character and magnitude or racism have dramatically changed. Racism today does not have legal sanction, as it once did. Equally significant, racism today is episodic rather than systematic. This means that the law no longer has to take account of race in order to get beyond race. The best way to get rid of race as a factor in decision-making is quite simply to get rid of race as a factor in decision-making. If racial preferences fall, obviously gender preferences would disappear as well.
If Obama makes this argument, it would astound the country and immediately draw moderate and even Republican support. The Hillary camp would launch its usual attacks, but against Obama they would bounce off. This is one issue on which Obama would have unimpeachable credibility.
Will he do it? Does he have the guts?
Reader Comments ( Page 6 of 10)
76. Ya I actually believe.. maybe my thoughts were ambiguous... *shrugs*
danny at 3:56PM on Mar 10th 2008
77. WELL HOW NICE-- ALL THE BLACKS VOTED FOR OBAMA ---WHY ???????????????? BECAUSE HE IS BLACK-- NO RACISM THERE..................
CC at 4:04PM on Mar 10th 2008
78. Dinesh, just because you have a good life in spite of your race and color doesn't mean that millions of black kids in inner-city schools haven't been abandoned to the wolves. That's the problem with "conservatives" - they are ignorant and proud of it! Stop giving conservatism a bad name.
sooku at 4:39PM on Mar 10th 2008
79. Yeah, Blacks are notoriosly bad tippers!!!
jonathan at 11:47AM on Mar 11th 2008
80. So are Canadians and fat people.
jonathan at 4:17PM on Mar 10th 2008
81. The problem with Dinesh's proposal of creating a racial blind government / society is that it overlooks the fact that we are biased by nature. The brain's own biology sorts people into categories of "us" and "not us", and subconciously shifts preference towards the former and distrusts the latter. This isn't blatant bigotry with people shaving their heads and burning crosses. It's a survival mechanism developed to keep us safe from outsiders who could be potential enemies.
The problem with the asking: "Do we still need affirmative action" is in who are you asking? Of course businesses and the establishment wants as few controls as possible on their business practices. That simply stems from a desire for independance. But there are racial and social affects as well. A friend of mine was fired. He happened to be gay? Was he fired for being gay? Of course not. He was officially fired because he made straight co-workers "uncomfortable". In fact he made only one co-worker uncomfortable, and that man bragged about how he cost him his job. With such individuals around, using their own intolerance and fear to persecute minorities that have been grouped as the "not us" category, political protections are vital to maintain equality.
Incidently, this is one reason why straighties are so opposed to gay marriage. If we were to get married then our sexual relations would be moved closer to an "us" consideration.
So a better question would be 'Is affirmative action fair?" Of course white wealthy anglo-saxon protestant males would say no, but that aristocratic ideal has persisted for centuries. Dinesh obviously seems to think not, which is curious. One has to wonder if he recieved his position due to his ethnicity or to the merit of his writing? Perhaps Darthmouth needed a little more diversity? We can only speculate. The point is when minorities begin to see affirmitive action as unnecessary, then it's removal can be opposed. However, as demographics show, minories and women habitually make less money then their white male contemporaries. Until that averages out, expect to see affirmative action around for quite a while.
Oh, and my friend? He found another job in California, which has laws to protect his job the next time a bigot gets his panties in a wad. My method of keeping my job is far simplier, being a lesbian. Hal, the bigot who got my friend fired, has said he'd pay be five hundred dollars to see some live action lezzie play...
...go fig...
Somber at 4:18PM on Mar 10th 2008
82. If you want to help get rid of racism don't refer to Blacks as African - Americans.
Hispanics, nor any other "Group" requires to be called by thier race.ie "Hispanic Americans."
" WE ARE ALL AMERICANS!!!
Cowboy57 at 4:20PM on Mar 10th 2008
83. Barack Obama has tried very hard not to make this a racial campaign. For the first time, people are judging him for his merit, not his skin color. This is a wonderful thing in this country.
Sharon at 4:26PM on Mar 10th 2008
84. Hello everybody! I'm back from Jamaica. Yeah, mon, me had a ripped time in Negril, looking very brown and peeling like mad.
Nice to hear from you, Danny me love. Hope you are well.
Well, since few people are willing to promote affirmative action, here goes:
If you folks think that economic imbalance due to color, institutionalized racism, and social racism has left, or even abated, well DREAM ON. Not in this country. Everyone likes to say that unqualified people get jobs they shouldn't; I say that the white europeans are getting higher pay and hired faster than people of color. Why? If given equal resumes, the companies hire "their own" almost exclusively. There are thousands of well educated, hard working African Americans who have benefited from affirmative action, have left impoverished upbringings to enter the allmighty middle class.
Everyone has a story about how so and so was discriminated against because of from affirmative action; usually we hear one side of the story. Maybe the cop in the previous post wasn't hired because he didn't speak Spanish, or had a lousy attitude, or who knows.
What a stupid post from DD. His "challenges" are laughable. Nobody with sense would do any of them.
Linda at 4:26PM on Mar 10th 2008
85. Two dumb statements on here. My husband is Black and he tips very well... so much so that when we go back to a restaurant... the waiters fight to serve us. (2) The statement Michelle Obama made that everyone keeps misquoting is "for the first time in my life I am REALLY PROUD of my country". The really qualifies what she meant and gives a totally different meaning to her statement. Reporters keep misquoting it because it is part of the propoganda they continue to spread about Mrs. Obama. In reality when you look at the media reporting on the both hillary and Mr. Obama's campaign he is constantly being referred to as Black and it is constant talk going on about the 'Black' vote. In 2008 it should be hillary and Obama or male/female. But what's up with the reminder of his being Black... we all know what he is so why keep mentioning it.
Inez at 4:31PM on Mar 10th 2008
86. Hey, Linda's back! I feel the ja, mon!
Mokele-Mobembe at 4:37PM on Mar 10th 2008
87. I agree, Sharon. He's a person, not just a person of color.
Read his autobiography. He struggled mightily with racism, identity, stereotypical thinking and an absent father. I believe these struggles made him stronger and more aware than the average American.
Linda at 4:41PM on Mar 10th 2008
88. Hi Linda.
brian, where's my restauraunt recomendation? I guess I'll eat tomorrow!
mac at 4:44PM on Mar 10th 2008
89. Moke, ma mon. Ja, me been trippin down dere in reggaeland. Chef has de best run-up sauce around at my hotel
Linda at 4:44PM on Mar 10th 2008
90. If Obama did what you suggest - what do you think would happen to someone like you with a name like that. Don't kid yourself into thinking you are caucasian because you are not. Remember what the British called the likes of you in the 40's and 50's.
j.perkins at 5:22PM on Mar 10th 2008