“One of the dirty little secrets of racial preferences, now beginning to leak out,” I wrote last June,
is not only that most of the beneficiaries are middle class or actually rich — that has been known if not advertised for a good while — but that most are not even American, or if they are American they are of very recent origin.
Continuing, I quoted from a front page article from the New York Times:
Researchers at Princeton University and the University of Pennsylvania who have been studying the achievement of minority students at 28 selective colleges and universities (including theirs, as well as Yale, Columbia, Duke and the University of California at Berkeley), found that 41 percent of the black students identified themselves as immigrants, as children of immigrants or as mixed race.
The issue of the “‘overrepresentation’ of non-native black students” was discussed in a panel discussion at Duke on Monday night. “Blacks were seen as an ethnically undifferentiated population when affirmative action was first introduced,” faculty panelist Sandy Darity noted.
Darity and the rest of the panelists agreed ethnic diversity of blacks should probably not be ignored, as it is very problematic to lump various ethnicities into one category.
Not only “problematic” but stereotyping and offensive:
Junior Wintta Woldemariam expressed annoyance at the fact that many universities—including Duke—do not allow black applicants to convey their heritage to the same extent as other races. “Duke doesn’t care what kind of black you are—there is only one box to check,” she said.
The article doesn’t say whether anyone on the panel saw a corresponding problem with there being only one box for “white” and one box for “Asian” and one box for “Native American.”
On the other hand, perhaps these critics are missing the point. Although it is certainly true that not all blacks are the same (just as Japanese and Chinese and Koreans are not the same and Cherokees and Apaches are not the same), they actually are all the same in their ability to provide “diversity” to others, which is the current, Sandra-sanctioned justification for racial and ethnic preferences.
This topic will totally short circuit Cobra and his ilk. Reality has no place in their thinking. Their position is that we should do “something” and if that “something” is the best we can do, then anyone pointing out that the result is ridiculous must be shouted down. Because, you see, it is the “doing our best” that is important, not the result. If we do our best, we are “good” and our feeling about ourselves is the point, not the result. It is totally not about the particular blacks benefiting (or not) from the affirmative action. So long as they are black and keep their mouths shut, liberalism had done its job. It is about all of the good liberals making it possible for them to be there. How many middle class Jamaicans run through the system is not the point. Hey, they have a luge team! If they beat the system they are to be admired, not put down. How else to explain the liberal response to your pointing out the inconvenient facts?
Notherbob writes:
>>> Their position is that we should do “something” and if that “something” is the best we can do, then anyone pointing out that the result is ridiculous must be shouted down. ”
If you take the opposing position, that we should do “nothing” in face of the blatant anti-minority discrimination of America, and that’s the “best we can do”, we will get results like we did for 190 of the first 229 years of American history. Now, you may not have a problem with the results of the PAST, but I sure do.
–Cobra
The Carnival Of Education: Week 2
Here is a variety of interesting and informative posts from around the EduSphere (and a few from the Larger ‘Sphere) that have been submitted by various authors and readers. We think that they represent a great variety of…
qed
There is no “blatant” discrimination against minorities, Cobra. That’s a fabrication. You might also call it a “lie,” but I’m trying to be polite. Anyway, you made it up. It’s pretty funny, in that this board is all about the discriminatory advantages minorities receive, which you support.
I’m going to ask you again. Why do you use a pseudonym that connotes violence and attack? Whey do you use a pseudonym that was used by the SLA, a group that advocated racial warfare?
There’s an old saying: “Takes one to know one.” No wonder you always invoke the Klan when you get cornered.
I’m going to suggest you get rid of the moniker that invokes attack and violence. Find a name that is peaceable, or try revealing your identity
I’m going to state the obvious: The U.S. is the most fair and equitable society in history, both in terms of race and sex. This is indisputable, Cobra. You’re blowing hot air. There has never been a place where it’s better. Period. In fact, the places on earth that are currently performing worst in this regard are black African nations. Does this reflect an innate racism in blacks?
And you still have not told me why you are not ashamed to be constantly belly-aching about your inability to compete against me. one on one without the handicaps. I guess you are just conceding the fact that I’m a better man. Thanks for the compliment. You’re probably right.
Can I inject a little off-topic note here? I really enjoy John’s blog, but the comment section is quickly turning into the “Cobra Show”, and it isn’t always Cobra’s fault. The first comment here mentioned him by name, and not a single comment so far is relevant to John’s very interesting and very pertinent post.
“not a single comment so far is relevant”
Well, now Dom, from your elite liberal perspective (having made no relevant comment yourself) it is very perspicacious of you to note the mote in the eyes of others. Perhaps, upon specific request, you could make a relevant comment and show us how we have gone wrong. Otherwise, feel free to feel superior while remaining silent except to favor us with the rare, very subtle, satisfying effete liberal putdown.
John is onto something here and no doubt someone of your refined sensibilities can add some very interesting input. How about it?
For those who favor affirmative action, there is an obvious solution to allow proper direction of affirmative action swag to the right people–a robust system of racial classification that will allow fine-grained determinations of correct racial status. Fortunately, there are several superb examples to build upon: the Nuremberg laws of 1935, and the old South African racial classification system.
A reader who wishes to remain anonymous just sent the following comment:
I used to spend a lot of time up in Evanston IL, by the Northwestern University campus. The story there was — and I don’t know if its true — that Ian Smith’s niece went toNwU’s medical school after indicating that she was of African origin/ethnicity.
Ian Smith was the white Prime Minister of former Rhodesia, now Zimbabwe. I think we can be confident that the niece was also white. Is it possible that a foreign white candidate edged out American black candidates that could have won in a straightforward merits competition?
Inquiring minds want to know.
Reminds me of Teresa Heinz “I am an African American” Kerry….
At least the “progressives” (f/k/a liberals) aren’t publicly dismissing the complaint with a “they all look the same to us” sort of defense.