anotherlimey

I'm saying it's difficult to compare the US to the UK directly, it's better to compare one state to the UK.

But the short answer would be one of the Southern states.

DMKH

thanks. the Jena 6 comes to mind.....

another bloody yank

AA perpetuates the "status quo" by encouraging racial division and unrest. The racial situation the US is a source of wealth and power for many individuals and it is in their best interest to keep things antagonistic. EEO is a big industry... True harmony will only be achieved by true equality which cannot happen while one race is favored over another. While the specter of AA looms over the workplace the sucessfull minorities will never get the respect they deserve, there will always be an asterisk next their name on the org chart.

Minorities can, and do, through hard work, determination and their own merit find success in the classroom and office. I think it's insulting and condescending to infer and even legislate otherwise.


I'm not sure what you're saying here... Are you saying we should limit Asians admittance into the Ivy League because they outperform whites? And I didn't know that about the "rural area in the woods" thing, I'll keep that in mind if my kids decide to attend college.




Classroom performance has nothing to do with job performance and there are many factors to consider when hiring, including language and culture. What good is a guy with a 4.0gpa from Harvard if you can't understand what he's saying?

As far as networking, my place of employment has black only, and women only networking organizations that are linked to similar organizations at other large companies throughout the area. These organizations are extremely strong.



That's the problem, affirmative doesn't respect ability, it respects race. We already have a concrete step to challenge unfair hiring practices, there are laws against discrimination. You cannot not a hire a person due to their race, gender, age, weight or disability.


You can't end bias by using bias, and the attempt doesn't do anybody any favors.

cindyabs

Uh, I grew up in a rural area out in the middle of nowhere, where the predominant industry is logging and paper mills. I applied to three different colleges and was accepted to all three. It wasn't on the basis of where I lived, it was on the basis of receiving a good secondary education. My state has had the top SAT scores in the country in spite of being largely rural.

artemis

Hi PGtips, just floated past your post and thought I would stop to say I totally agree with you re the racism in England. My mother is half Japanese and I was bought up in a small country village where our family and another black family were the only families in a village of totally white people so you can imagine the comments. Worse for my mother because she has the typical Japanese looks, but does not really notice much in me.

I remember distinctly walking past the Savoy Hotel (a long time ago) where a copper was questioning a black man (who worked at the hotel) unnecessarily and I intervened and asked questions such as "why have you stopped this man" etc. He was interviewing this bloke down a dark alley. The copper did not really have an answer. On another occasion I was on a demonstration my friend (who was black) was dressed up in the costume of a monkey (don't ask it's a long animal-rights story!) and this policeman just took my breath away with his bigotted racism. He said things like "Oh sorry I did not realise you really were a monkey etc). And because he was being sarcastic and talking in a normal everyday voice it somehow made the chills run down my spine in a very icy manner. I stepped in there too. It's a truly hateful and nasty experience. Anyway at every opportunity I get I go on the radio live to repeat this story - people just don't know the half of it. All the best,

Sally

I thought kids from inner-city schools did receive an advantage in points (well a percentage of them).

cindyabs

I can't speak to that-what I did say was in reply to his statement of kids in
rural areas getting "extra" help.

Sally

Yes I think he may have got it wrong.

cindyabs

Irony is, it's the cities that have the museums and other venues of culture.......

veryfunny

What makes it worse that even after the Stephen Lawrence, incidence the Police, have not really changed that much.

I can tell you stories of my racism experiences but I got to the point in my life where I feel that one has to let it go and move on with ones life.

Just like PGtips, it hurts and knocks one confidence but I get back on the saddle and keeping aiming and moving towards my goals. I have worked in several places in the UK and some place are much more tolerant than others, people say they do not mean to bias, but five minutes after they say so, all the bigotry starts flowing out of their mouths.

RoadWarriorFromLP

The purpose of affirmative action is not to end bias. Its purpose is to transfer opportunity into the hands of those who have historically been denied it.

On a certain level, I couldn't care less if some dumb redneck resents a qualified black man, woman or whomever working alongside him. (I would reserve a few choice words for such a person, but as this is a family forum, I'll refrain...) The point is to give that other guy (or gal) a leg up, irrespective of how incredibly bigoted or stupid Mr./Ms. Redneck may be.

The key to success in this society is economic opportunity. In this culture, cash can buy you a lot of influence.

I myself am half-white. I experienced discrimination growing up here, although it is admittedly much better than it was (although I'm sure part of it comes from the fact that my white features are more evident as I have gotten older -- these days, many don't realize that I'm in an ethnic minority.) But some of the improvement comes from the fact that affluence transfer benefits that poverty does not.

To get people on equal footing, you first need to give them a shot at attaining equal footing. That's a lengthy, difficult process, but it has to begin somewhere, and the workplace is an obvious place to start.

Rather than allowing some insular country club mentality to forever perpetuate the transfer of power and wealth among a chosen few, there is a need to break down the system and force it in, even if it pisses off a few of the privileged. If anything, pissing off those pampered silver spoons seems to be an inevitable part of the process -- they resent the need to share with those who don't know the secret handshake -- so we may as well get busy and piss them off as much as possible.

YankeemovingAbroad

I'm sure you earned those opportunities that came your way like many of us who have worked very hard.There are qualifying points that universities use to guage who is given preference over other canidates into school.Admition offices don't have the class room space to grant everyone's application so they use guidelines that help them build a student body.They have been doing this for years and one of those qualifying points used to determine entry pertains to background and where you live.You can call up a University and ask them about their Admition's policy and maybe even get your hands on that blueprint that decides how many points you are awarded for being a Legend,for being not only a good student but work as a intern in your field of study ect ect ect.

YankeemovingAbroad

Saying African Americans perpetuat the "status quo" is equal to believing that people who are targeted for racism should sit still and take the abuse.Those days are long gone in this country and those who pine for the day when AA's were less than power need to accept the fact that bigotry by racist will be anwsered with a swift and exacting response.Racial problems were not created by minorities in America but those who are foolish enough to engage in bigotry against minorities should be prepared to pay a price.Why some people struggle to evolve is beyond me!

Sally

"I'm not sure what you're saying here... Are you saying we should limit Asians admittance into the Ivy League because they outperform whites? "

I believe there is some thinking along those lines in California.

YankeemovingAbroad

Its allready happening at some colleges.Whites are the big losers in this equation because Asians are taking slots that would other wise go to whites.Many Caucasians are very angry they are being beaten out which is causing a backlash directed toward Asians.That is unfair! Why do I get the feeling the same people complaining about Affirmative Action also are against Asians because of their success at Universities.