Mr. Viles made a point: your history does make whom you become. There's no way anyone can disagree with that. Where we disagree is on is whether your history is you.
Take Oprah, for example. To know how great her success is, you have to realize that it was exceptionally difficult to be African American and be successful in her field. You have to realize that she came from poverty, and that part of her success is her ability to empathize with those in that situation. The fact of the matter is, Oprah's former situation is less common today. You don't have to be a minority to be poor and you don't have to be poor to be a minority. There are those who aren't necessarily a minority, but are in poverty. There are minorities who are middle class or wealthy. There is a more level playing field. There should be no credit given to a certain race. Last time I checked, that was prejudicial.
I thought the goal of our country was equality, not apologies by those who've done nothing for something that happened in the past. How are we, as a nation, supposed to find equality if there are distinct separations between races. Our system isn't a melting pot; it's too divided to be considered as such. I don't want to lose a spot that I am more qualified for so that a college can get it's quota of minorities. If that's selfish, I'm sorry. Not too sound too white America, but it's not my fault that I was born white, just as it's not someone else's fault that they were born into the race they are. I can't stop racism. There are some minorities who are turned down for a job or scholarship I'm sure, but it's hidden because it's a crime to discriminate against someone for their race. What isn't a crime is to have a scholarship for only blacks. Is that fair?
All in all, I think for equality's sake that people shouldn't take advantage of the fact that some races have had a harder history. It's true. It's terrible. It can't be erased. I'm sorry it happened. I shouldn't be paying for what my awful ancestors did with my education. Others shouldn't be benefiting from what happened to their ancestors. People should realize it's not what's on the outside that counts, and even if your outside reveals that your history has been harder for you than mine was for me, it's time to think in the now and not rely on the past to get what you want.
On another note, this conversation wouldn't be happening if we lived almost anywhere else. I think the fact that our school is 99% Caucasian makes this discussion much easier to have. I don't know whether that's a good thing or a bad thing.
1 comment:
There is so much here to discuss and for you to continue to think about. That is my first comment in fact, that you should really hold onto this post and consider it from time to time because you are candidly working on some very volatile and critical issues.
The next point to consider is to what extent people, you or me, majority or minority, live their daily life in a context of historical legacies, both positive and negative. While I would assert that no such legacy becomes an excuse for any behavior, I would also suggest that no modern behavior can be explained without understanding such legacies.
In general, just consider the idea of historical legacies.
Do you feel they exist?
If so, to what degree are they powerful?
In what ways should such legacies be addressed (confronted/absorbed/struggled with)?
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