The Supreme Court’s dismantling of Affirmative Action is a travesty that proves they are either willfully ignorant, racist, or both. My story, which is similar to many, gives an important message.
The Demise of Affirmative Action
While the decision from the Supreme Court to gut Affirmative Action (AA) was expected, it still hurts both on a personal level and an empathetic level. The fact that it did not apply to military schools says much. SCOTUS supports ensuring that military folks of all ethnicities have equal access to the best schools that teach them how to be the best they can be to die for their country potentially.
When I was younger, I hated Affirmative Action. Why would an Afro-Latino Caribbean man ever hate a most necessary remedy for centuries of discrimination? Because while going to a very white University of Texas at Austin and in many of my jobs in corporate America, it was clear that many believed I got there not because of merit but because of the Affirmative Action hand-up.
The reality is that AA was likely responsible for my getting into the University of Texas and getting every corporate job I had. It does not matter that I was qualified for all. Absent AA, these institutions would likely have done what they have always done, ignoring the majority of qualified BIPOCs. Looking back, it is difficult to accept that competency and merit are not enough to succeed. Then again, I left Panama with my ears ringing from what my parents would always tell me about America. Be prepared to work twice as hard for half as much. That reality still exists for too many.
For those who are not fully convinced of the importance of Affirmative Action, please listen/watch my recent defense of Affirmative Action on my KPFT 90.1 FM radio show, where I dispel the angst by many white Americans about AA representing reverse racism. Both the video and podcast are included in the post. And for those who are interested in the real experience of a black professional, consider reading my Kindle Vella series “Tribulations of an Afro-Latino Caribbean man: Racism didn’t Stop My Smile, Hope, Or Journey Forward.”
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