Recently the Surpreme Court issued a ruling that seemingly struck down collegiate Affirmative Action programs. What everyone keeps talking about is race; and how it should no longer be a barrier for minorities in the college application process. Nothing could be further from the truth! The Civil Rights Act is a law and laws by themselves do not change the heart's and minds of people. Racism, sexism, nepotism, cronyism...are all examples of toxic mindsets. It is literally a way of thinking that certain people subscribe to. More importantly, while Affirmative Action has indeed helped hundreds, if not thousands of black and brown college applicants, let us remember that this law was not solely about racial inequality in the first place. Affirmative Action also greatly helped the independece, and advancement for women of all races.
Prior to The Civil Rights Act of 1964/1965, employers, businesses, and colleges could discriminate on the basis of race and sex. It has long been the accepted tradition, for women to be relegated to the roles of wife, mother and in some cases teacher. Even when some were allowed to work or serve in the capacity of a teacher, they were limited in where they could work and what subjects they could teach. During World War I, while most men were off fighting in the war, women were temporarily allowed to work. This was because they needed to keep their respective businesses operational; in other words they wanted to continue making money. Women were needed because so many men were either fighting in the war, or had died during the war, which created a need of additional workers. When war ceased, women returned to their traditional roles of wife and/or mother.
Women were not business owners.
Women were not advanced degree holders.
There were few women entrepreneurs
No corporate women leaders.
Why? Because it was illegal. Affirmative Action changed all of that. If you are a woman chances are very high that Affirmative Action laws have helped you too, without you even being aware.
Is Racism Obselete?
0%Yes
0%No
Years ago, I was fortunate to write about this in depth for an essay contest I competed in sponsored by the Detroit NAACP Chapter and Ford Motor Company. In my winning essay, I discussed the role Affirmative Action played in the advancement of blacks as well as women. This fact is often purposely overlooked in Affirmative Action discussions to this day! Do you know why? I could only summarize it is because women are considered a "protected class" in some respects. There are alot of companies who receive tax incentives that are inline with Affirmative Action Programs and laws that oppose discrimination. To put it plainly businesses ( colleges included ) often receive kick backs (money) and/or tax incentives whenever they hire or accept minorities, women, military men and women, and certain folks with disabilities etc. It is important to note that there was no mention of these federal kick backs being eliminated in the courts recent rullings but I digress.
The assumption many believe is that now, companies willingly hire black people or other minorities because they have moved on from their racist and sexist mindsets. Nope. Not even close. They just found a way to profit off of their control and bigotry, all the while claiming to be opposed to it.
Have you heard anyone talking about this mainstream?
I shudder to think why...
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