The Personal Side of Bias, Prejudice, and Oppression

 

When affirmative action was created for African Americans to have an equal chance to gain employment as their European American counterparts.  It applied to college entrance also.  Many European Americans were upset and felt African Americans were given a free ride where they did not have to work hard in order to earn the slot or position.  Affirmative action intentions were to make a level playing field.  Bias were formed when standards were lowered for African Americans to meet the mark in order to get into institutions of higher learning and for employment.

 

Affirmative action diminished equity by adjusting the standards for African Americans.  African Americans did not have the same opportunities in education as their European American counterparts.  Historically, African American families were denied the right to education for many years.  African American families were already at a disadvantage.  Even though affirmative action was suppose to empower African American families, it created a bias in making African Americans seem to have less intelligence than their European American counterparts.

 

The feelings which were brought out of me was disappointment.  African Americans were already at a disadvantage.  Historically, education was a privilege that European American males were privy to.  Since African Americans did not have the same resources or opportunities as the European Americans have had in education, it will take longer for African Americans to discover the necessary resources to help their children ultimately succeed in education.

 

Affirmative action can be an equity experience.  Now, affirmative action has been expanded to women and minority cultures.  Employers need to state general requirements for jobs and make sure the applicant is qualified despite their culture background or ethnicity.  The focus needs to be on the personality and willingness to work as a team player of the applicant.  I believe it provides a more level playing field for all applicants no matter their privileges.

"It takes a village to raise a child." -African Proverb-