My roommate is without a doubt an African-American. Why? Because she has American citizenship. If that doesn’t make her an African-American in your book then I think you need to check the definition again. In your book I may not know much about African Americans but I do know that being from Africa and also being an American citizen, makes you an “African-American.”

I don’t know how you concluded I don’t know much about American history from my comment but clearly your ability to reason is somewhat deficient…

Don’t know if you are still reading this or not because it’s been a few days since the last comment but just in case you are…Yes she is an African-American. We are studying together in France and she flew here with an American passport and she is an American citizen, if that doesn’t make her an African-American I’m not sure what does.

I’m not sure how you concluded I know nothing of African American history and would even go so far as to say I have no understanding of the history of America. I was telling a story about my roommate who made an incredibly ignorant and even racist statement towards me and said she doesn’t care how AA hurts Asians since it helps African-Americans (like herself). How well do you know your American history? Don’t act like Asians have never been discriminated against in America…remember a little thing called the Chinese Exclusion Act? Or do you only care about black American history?

your statement:

However, while a few people have cited anecdotal evidence of AA gone awry, LaShawn’s posts themselves give ample evidence of widespread lowering of standards in which the entire minority SAT average is several hundred points below the average of other Whites and Asians and tests are “dumbed” down to ensure admittance.

Jan, you are correct about Lashawn’s information, and kudos to her for her bravery and determination to educate us. But, I personally have no control what others score on standardized tests or how they are set up. Really, what can I do about that?

My GPA is my GPA, just like my SAT score was MY SAT score.
I earned both, I did well on the same tests that Asians and Whites took because I was tracked into a high achieving HS.in NYC. I cannot waste energy figuring out what everyone my race, or other minority did/is doing, because I’m accountable to myself and God, no one else. Just like I am sure you would loathe to have to experience accountability of your race for what some “undesirables” do, the same applies here. I’m not 100% sure if you are saying the test curricula is dumbed down for minorities, or for everyone.

What I can do is volunteer at my local library as a literacy tutor and teach someone how to read. I can tutor someone (fellow classmate/peer)to help bring them to the level I am. I had SAT prep classes in my HS, which did not make me feel any more special, just better prepared. I shared these resources with other people that I knew needed it. I feel that much more can be achieved sharing resources, rather than criticizing those who did not know as much as I. I am not talking about those who do nothing and never will, I’m talking about those who do. I don’t associate with them until they genuinely desire to better themselves. We need to be proactive and not reactive if we want things to get better. I hope others deign to do the same. My time is not spent speculating who could have been what or what I would have been if and only if. That’s counter productive.

Everyone on this board acknowledges that there are people of excellence in all races and only the emotionally stunted begrudge others “earned” achievement.

Yes, but the emotionally stunted individuals are also indifferent, they may complain, but they are not competing because they have already given up on life, they just say that they will. The ones who are competing believe in America, and the promise that it holds, are taking the good with the bad. You cannot change the others, so stop worrying about them, and move on.

By the way, I have rejected what I considered to be perks given to me because of my race. Received a full ride scholarship to a HBCU school I never applied to. Was “nominated” by some guidance counselor who couldn’t spell my name correctly for an Urban League Scholarship. They send an award letter, and a check if I attended yet another school I did not apply to. I work full time and attend school full time, something my FA advisor thinks can be remedied by a quick jaunt to FastWeb- scholarship matching. I am by no means an advocate for AA. I just feel like if everyone here wants better competition, don’t just sit around judging, help. For each client I teach at the library, there about 5 more waiting to be tutored. These are not knuckleheads who are contrary and want to milk the system. These are people with very sharply honed survival skills, with plenty of sense. To my surprise, some had their own businesses. They come because guess what, they want to compete legitimately. They have made lemonade out of lemons, and want to feel a sense of worth, not a sense of entitlement.

It isn’t that folks don’t think that a black child can excel (as you have implied that folks think) but rather that folks think that a black child CAN excel

The ugly truths unsaid is speaking to the class issue. That certain elites would have it that anyone beneath their level (fiscally) for the top educational opportunites (thats why I used the private school statement, as well as the gifted black kid statement) would sadly be disqualified. Now if the race/class thing overlaps, well I am sure that is a whole other board. The funny thing about that is we all are “wanabees” to somebody’s group, tax bracket, etc.

It’s a vicious circle.

I just cannot abide the ‘woe is me’ mentality. And woe to my future students who try that stunt. It won’t fly with me…

Everyone on this board acknowledges that there are people of excellence in all races and only the emotionally stunted begrudge others “earned” achievement.

Naturally, with AA, there are innumerable cases where a woman or a minority will not know beyond a shadow of a doubt whether they gained admittance or received a job affirmatively. (This is, in fact, one of the biggest downsides to AA).

However, while a few people have cited anecdotal evidence of AA gone awry, LaShawn’s posts themselves give ample evidence of widespread lowering of standards in which the entire minority SAT average is several hundred points below the average of other whites and Asians and tests are “dumbed” down to ensure admittance.

It isn’t that folks don’t think that a black child can excel (as you have implied that folks think) but rather that folks think that a black child CAN excel.

AA has turned this notion on its head.

In my previous post, I did not mean to imply that white women do not rely on their own fortitude to get in the door. I also do not assume that about any woman, no matter what color she is. So, I agree with you , Redbeard, Chief RZ and Greg, Thanks for your feedback.

But the question remains :
A. how would any woman (or anyone else) know for certain if she was hired/promoted as an AA quota or not if she is indeed qualified? Is the interviewer going to tell you, Oh we needed a ____ woman to fill this slot, and guess what, today’s your lucky day! Is she going to have the opportunity to turn down such a heinous offer that conflicts with her principles? Would this institution really open themselves up to a potential lawsuit?

Um, that is NEVER going to happen

Her academic/professional achievements may be stellar, but at the end of the day, the company has fulfilled it’s quota, doesn’t matter what she happens to think about her abilities and talents, and what she has done to get where she is.

B. Is any of our individual successes done without God’s help/gifts, and if not why are other people’s miracles the source of constant consternation? Besides, if they mess it up, someone gets to take their slot.

C. (just for my edification) Which is more egregious, when an individual chooses to employ AA, or when a professional/educational institution chooses to enact it?

It feels like some ugly unsaid truths are allowing people to cite particular instances of AA, because I do not think I will ever see someone say, oh, the extremely gifted black kid got in over my brilliant kid. It is frequently assumed that the minority competition is sub par in some way. They could have gone to the same private schools as some of your children. So again, there lies the hidden issue, perhaps some these people feel minorities cannot possibly be allowed to compete with their child.

Can’t say that I know too many who were academic slackers in high school, turn around and run off to college. If this has been your experience, understand, I can appreciate how you feel but , I really do not understand the need to demonize groups of individuals that benefit. Don’t contribute to your own frustration by judging them because you have no idea of what capabilities they have. God has the judgment thing all sewn up, he doesn’t need your assistance!

Everyone else, I suggest we tread very carefully when it comes to AA ( I wonder how many people actually studied AA and the purpose for it). Sure some people misuse it while others don’t. I have African Americans on my job who really don’t do jack, then scream racism when a supervisor has to carry out a disciplinary action. These individuals are using race as an excuse to cover up their incompetence. AA is used the same way in principle for some.

Today I still am witness to the subversive discrimination that AA was meant to level the playing field for. I know exactly what Leon experienced and it is frustrating. A lot of African Americans are simply blind to the fact that racism still exist because it is not as blatant as it use to be. Again I say we should tread carefully.

http://ker-plunk.blogspot.com/2007/02/obama-not-black.html

Funny, poignant, and spot on?

Regards,

John