Tuesday, August 11, 2009
Race
Yesterday during the Critical Race theory group, I discussed the topic of Affirmative action and how race was something that was socially constructed. As you may recall I described race as something that was nothing more than a label that was given to a particular group of individuals that that tragically that has created a power structure based on the color of an individual’s skin with whites being on top and individuals with a darker color skin being through of inferior. In the eyes of many this could be considered a type of class warfare because individuals of color were not able to receive those same benefits that a white individual would have been entitled to. Because of this, things such as affirmative action have been established in order to be able try and even out the playing field and try to break down those racial categories. Affirmative action in the eyes of some a program that was meant to attempt to help individuals of color, has actually caused just as many problems for people of color like by not dealing with things such as racism some of the finest institutions in the country. The question that I would like to ask is that if affirmative action has not addressed the problems that it set out to help fix, what is the right way to help put an end to these problems? If race is able to be compared to that of a mere label, we should not be having test kinds of problems.
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To be honest, I completely disagree with the existence of a hierarchy based on race- I believe social hierarchy is truly dependent on socioeconomic status.
ReplyDeleteAffirmative action 'acknowledges' the fact that race can be a barrier in society- yet economic barriers can be just as resistant, if not more impermeable. Impoverished families lack access to the best health care, education, etc. Yet, affirmative action completely disregards the obstacles faced by America's underprivileged.
If we truly wish to promote social progression, affirmative action needs to at the very least include consideration of financial status.
I agree with Hirsh. Affirmative action does need to include other groups besides those of the racial minorities. Statistics show that white women have been the most beneficial group to this policy, and it displays that its goal is not being met. In regards to economic status, I am not sure if I would include those factors, but I do believe there needs to be a broader standard for this policy. No matter the economic background, there are theories of white privilege that are still very much potent within our society. When enacting this policy, there should have been more components in mind besides pure racial standards.
ReplyDeleteRace may be in definition a mere label but it has evolved into something far greater. Race carries with it connotations, beliefs, practices, and sadly rights. What affirmative action set out to correct, the injustices based on this social construction, will truly only become possible when this definition of race no longer means what it does today. I’m not sure if there is a “right” way to fix the problem but I do believe it relies on our, society, as a whole idea of what race means. When we are able to break that down, and truly treat as just a mere label then actually progress can be made.
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