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For Those Against Affirmative Action, a Dose of Reality. [1]

['This Content Is Not Subject To Review Daily Kos Staff Prior To Publication.']

Date: 2023-06-29

I am writing this not as a news story, or an interview, but as someone born in one of the most racially divided cities in America. So I am not going to debate the points of “merit” or “achievement.” I am not going to go into stereotypes about math or spelling, and I feel no concern whatsoever with “middle America’s” (code for white flighters) feelings.

As part of my role as a journalist, I run across shocking facts on a daily basis. I review a lot of YouTube, and the comments on there answer the question, “What if video comment forums existed in Dachau, 1942?” I am tired.

I am tired of “middle America” being all too willing to call people of color animals, and turn their backs on children born not just not on third base, not just not at the plate, but outside of the stadium altogether.

As a white male, I had no problem finding a college to accept my above average grade point average, and let me toil away at a degree that had no real bearing on my career. I did not get into Harvard. I was not going to. I was above average, not a valedictorian. That’s ok. I am what I am. I went to state school. But if you listen to right wingers, they would have you believe that a kid from East St. Louis, IL is randomly plucked, “Trading Places” style, with no ability to actually handle the rigors of an elite school as if by some kind of sick wager.

They would have you believe illiterate children of crack dealers are selected by race lottery, to the detriment of Johnny Try-Hard in suburbia. This is a lie. It has always been a despicable lie. But let’s delve into what, exactly, a determined student of color must overcome not to get into Harvard, but to merely make it through high school, shall we?

If you walk around the back of Herzog Elementary in the North Pointe neighborhood, you will find a huge, blue, humming box sitting on wheels behind a fence. It’s a chiller that the school uses for air conditioning, and it’s on wheels because it’s temporary. The permanent chiller gave out at the end of the school year when the weather was unusually hot, said St. Louis Public Schools Deputy Superintendent of Operations Square Watson. “We had to bring in a temporary unit just because the amount of repairs needed to bring the existing chiller back up and running was too costly,” Watson said.

The approach to this was a bond referendum, Proposition S, which did this:

Shall the Board of Education of the City of St. Louis borrow money in the amount of One Hundred Sixty Million Dollars ($160,000,000) for the purpose of acquiring, constructing, renovating, repairing, improving, furnishing and equipping school sites, buildings and related facilities in the District, including but not limited to (1) removing lead paint, fencing and other hazardous materials at affected schools, (2) upgrading mechanical systems to include replacement of outdated or obsolete equipment, temperature controls, and duct cleaning to increase ventilation, (3) upgrading building infrastructure by replacing roofs, tuck-pointing, waterproofing and window replacements, (4) improving security system to increase student safety by installing fire alarm system and replacing the interior and exterior doors, (5) upgrading technology to modernize classrooms and improve academic performance, (6) improving building conditions by renovating restrooms and other ADA improvements, and (7) increasing learning opportunities by creating outdoor learning spaces and making improvements to playgrounds and athletic fields and facilities and issue general obligation bonds for the payment thereof?

It passed with 86.89 percent of the vote. Good. 1982 was far too long to wait to make these changes.

Except, it was 2022. Think about that. In predominantly African-American schools, it took until the year 2022 for there to be bonds passed so that the children could A. not be educated in environments contaminated with lead paint, B. have proper air conditioning. C. a modern security system and D. ADA upgrades.

2022. It is like this all over this country. Children are born into poverty, which no economic infrastructure visible for miles, go to schools that CPS would remove children from if they were their homes. That is if they make it to school.

A dispute among teenagers, some who attend Vashon High School, produced gunfire Wednesday morning several blocks from the high school. A 17-year old senior boy on his way to class was shot in the back and required surgery. St. Louis police said all six teens involved knew each other but were not gang members. Police took an 18-year old and a 15-year old into custody Wednesday afternoon and were continuing the investigation.

That is ten years ago. So why do I mention it? Because nine years later..

A 15-year-old boy was shot Thursday afternoon near Vashon High School in the city's Jeff-Vander-Lou neighborhood. The shooting happened near Branter Place and Webster Avenue, according to a police report. The teenager was taken to a hospital and was conscious and breathing, police said.

It keeps happening. And it is this way nationwide. But what do we hear? “They have no upbringing.” Upbringing? Does “middle America” know that even in some of the most disadvantaged scenarios, they were born at least with a bat in their hand able to stand at the plate compared to their urban counterparts?

No. But most don’t care, either. They retreat to their bubbles. We know that America is viewed not as a collaboration, but a competition. Republicans brought us this mentality. Benevolence is a bleeding heart, and “pain is weakness leaving the body.” So colleges wanted to give the underprivileged a chance. But this too, is a bridge too far for Federalists in black robes.

And no, using socio-economic status is unlikely to work, as evidenced by this study:

Until racial disparities in educational preparation are eliminated, then, other strategies areneeded. Our analysis here suggests that affirmative action policies based on socioeconomic status are unlikely to achieve meaningful increases in racial diversity. That is not to say thatsocioeconomic affirmative action would not be valuable in its own right—it would increasesocioeconomic diversity on university campuses and would benefit low-income collegeapplicants—but only that it is not an effective or efficient means to achieving racial diversity.Race-conscious affirmative action does, however, increase racial diversity effectively at theschools that use it. Although imperfect, it may be the best strategy we currently have.

A child who goes to a high school dodging bullets and breathing lead paint is at a distinct disadvantage from a child who lives in a district flush with amenities. The former is disproportionately likely to be a minority. The latter is likely to be caucasian. That is just a fact. It is a fact because on every level of society we have built and fostered, yes, fostered, systemic racism leaving minorities very little opportunities for well, anything.

To call a race as a consideration “unconstitutional” is the height of hypocrisy. A minority is consistently suffering the effects of race being a consideration. It seems the only way to bring some semblance of fairness to America is to consider the disproportionate disadvantages being a person of color brings in this country.

But no, the Supreme Court rescued a nervous “middle America” concerned that their grip on power may be tenuous. And I can imagine how aggrieved they might have been, for after 400 years of white men in power, that was, after all, a very nervous 22 seconds for them.

-ROC

I need to add to my The Claw News family. I work tirelessly each week to bring useful content that fights for real progressive change. Join me. If you don’t get your $3.99’s worth, I will personally refund you the month and take the loss on the fees. Guaranteed.

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Love,

-ROC

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[1] Url: https://www.dailykos.com/stories/2023/6/29/2178334/-For-Those-Against-Affirmative-Action-a-Dose-of-Reality

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