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Well, I'd say one setback for Blacks (especially Black women) is their hair. A lot of people don't understand that the "professional" standards they set in the workplace hurt Blacks. What's natural for one race's hair can be unnatural and even damaging to the hair of another race. In some areas, for Black women to even be considered for a job, they have to perm their hair to make it straight. If they go in with braids or twists or locks (basically the most healthy styles for Black hair), they are considered unprofessional and thought of as "not really wanting the job".
This becomes a problem when people place the problems of a few on a race as a whole, on both sides of the equation.
You see it here on CD all the time...the actions of a few blacks define the group of them in the eyes of many people.
It's complicated, because on one hand, we all get defined to a certain extent by things that make us unique. You hear in the news about "Catholic groups", or "black organizers", or "leaders in the Latino community". On the other hand, most people don't want to be defined solely be what makes them different, even if it's an important part of who they are.
I'm often bothered when I hear "the gay community wants x, y, and z". I feel like everyone then assumes that all gays want the same thing. People do make assumptions, especially when they don't have a personal relationship with someone who belongs to a particular group. I try to speak up about it when I can.
Gosh it's nice being a straight, white male. Never having to worry that cops are watching you extra closely. Never having to wonder if the bank just screwed you over on you home loan. Never having to wonder if some business just threw away your resume because of your color. Never having to wonder if some person didn't rent you an apartment because he thought you were gay. Never having to wonder if you are being paid less than a male coworker just because you're a woman.
You'd have to be pretty stupid to trade all of those advantages for the slim chance that you might benefit from an AA program.
AA programs are an imperfect attempt to make up for all those other disadvantages. Who in their right mind would think that AA makes it advantageous to be a minority? That's just more stupidity than I can handle.
I voted for "small disadvantage", but this is very much in general.
It's still generally whites who are in control of things, and it's natural for us to gravitate toward those who are similar. It's easier to establish a report when you can relate to another person's life experiences.
On a micro level, things are very much equal, but on a macro level, I think that whites still have a slight advantage.
I agree 100%.
I've seen things come a LONG WAY in my 54 years on this little rock. When I was born in Baltimore Md, Blacks were segregated and given their own rest rooms and water fountains. Now we have a Black President.
Clearly there has been a LOT of progress in regards to equal opportunity - not just for Blacks but also for other racial minorities and for woman. It wasn't that long ago that there were only White Men as TV news reporters and anchors - now EVERY network has women and racial minorities in such prominent positions. Same is true for many other industries - there has been VAST improvement.
Now this is not to say that the average minority has an equal shot with the average white male, but it's definitely gotten closer - and I can imagine a time in the not-too-distant future (maybe another 20 years - maybe even a bit sooner) when there should be little to no need for the affirmative action legislations the Right finds so offensive.
Right now I would say such rules/laws are still needed - but with a little luck, maybe not for too much longer.
It's complicated, because on one hand, we all get defined to a certain extent by things that make us unique. You hear in the news about "Catholic groups", or "black organizers", or "leaders in the Latino community". On the other hand, most people don't want to be defined solely be what makes them different, even if it's an important part of who they are.
I'm often bothered when I hear "the gay community wants x, y, and z". I feel like everyone then assumes that all gays want the same thing. People do make assumptions, especially when they don't have a personal relationship with someone who belongs to a particular group. I try to speak up about it when I can.
Gosh it's nice being a straight, white male. Never having to worry that cops are watching you extra closely. Never having to wonder if the bank just screwed you over on you home loan. Never having to wonder if some business just threw away your resume because of your color. Never having to wonder if some person didn't rent you an apartment because he thought you were gay. Never having to wonder if you are being paid less than a male coworker just because you're a woman.
You'd have to be pretty stupid to trade all of those advantages for the slim chance that you might benefit from an AA program.
AA programs are an imperfect attempt to make up for all those other disadvantages. Who in their right mind would think that AA makes it advantageous to be a minority? That's just more stupidity than I can handle.
Please! Your common sense is too much for this forum!
No-whites have a HUGE advantage in almost all professions now. Sports is one very obvious example.
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Your common sense is too much for this forum!
