AFFIRMATIVE ACTION
I just picked up my weekly copy of Jet magazine and saw where a Black speaker was booed and cheered for remarks he made condemning affirmative action. In that same magazine there is an article about Florida apologizing for slavery. This is the way I see things.
Affirmative action has outlived its usefulness because, like many other programs of empowerment, it has been hijacked by those who wanted it to fail. Because of affirmative action many Historically Black Colleges and Universities are struggling to stay afloat. It is not that the schools are not good. It is just that many blacks know that they can get into schools which may offer them greater opportunity and exposure. Jackson State University and the University of Mississippi are both state funded schools. Yet, Ole Miss has facilities that Jackson State does not. Also, I am tired of seeing schools where their entire sports teams are all (or nearly all) Black. Where did the white guys go? Some are sitting in classrooms making plans for great futures. Other athletes don’t even bother to try out because they feel they will not make the team. It seems that that we have come full circle and ended up right back where we started. Many Black youngsters see exposure on national TV as a stepping stone to playing in the
NFL or NBA, making millions of dollars. Some never give a thought to their future in case of injury. If I had my way every player would have to carry at least a B average and have a degree in business or some other meaningful field. I am appalled that they let high school athletes play in the NBA. It is all just a dumbing down of our youth.
In North Dakota we have very little manufacturing. Most of our economy is based on road repair, services, education, housing and agriculture. We also rely on gov’t contracts at the two air bases. Invariably, the same few companies are awarded the same contracts every year. It is a good old boys club where essentially a small number of businessmen control
what happens in my city, at least. There goes the argument about affirmative action in contracts.
Lastly, the idea of states apologizing about slavery is pure nonsense. It is history. It is basically Black politicians pandering to there community. It is symbolic at best and really doesn’t mean a damn thing. Slavery existed. Get over it.
