FORA.tv

Fuel the Enlightenment

Race vs. Class: The Future of Affirmative Action

Miller Center of Public Affairs
Rate It
13,201 Views
  • Info
  • Bio
  • Full Program
  • Highlights
  • Transcript
  • Download
  • More
Swigart Avatar
Swigart
Posts: 2
Posted: 05.06.09, 03:08 AM
I agree with Mr. Conley Dr. McWhorter that Affirmative Action in Higher Education does not help the race issue, and possibly hurts it. We do need to focus on K-12 problems much more than higher education at this point.
Permalink
bitRAKE Avatar
bitRAKE
Posts: 1
Posted: 07.24.09, 12:04 AM
It doesn't matter how well founded Dalton Conley's arguments are because the structural discrimination against blacks is also the source of class discrimination. As Henry Louis Gates states, affirmative action only had the effect of splitting the black middle class - the lower class remains where it has been (regardless of race). How is a child effected by not knowing where (s)he will live this month, or eat today? Remove hope and gone is any ability to endure the struggle to succeed.
Permalink
rkm Avatar
rkm
Posts: 10
Posted: 07.24.09, 04:50 PM
This was a very good debate and I am impressed with The anthropological linguistic side of McWhorter. Unfortunately, Julian Bond appears to be stuck in the 1960s. I believe that this debate would have been outstanding with the assistance of Stephen Pinker.

As far as getting accepted goes, President Bollinger was vague, and the reason is because the formula is not complex at all, it is simply who they want. Celebrity status, political or otherwise, takes priority over SAT or ACT scores.

In addition, the financial aid (FAFSA) is making it nearly impossible to afford a school like Columbia. But if you make less than $60k, you can go for free (or so they say on the tour...).
Permalink
Cara Avatar
Cara
Posts: 1
Posted: 08.18.09, 08:05 PM
This was a very good debate. I think the side opposed to Affirmative Action based on race and/or ethnicity was able to poke holes in the other side's argument.

One reason I think the Affirmative Action supporters (against the resolution) were weaker was due to the conflicting reasons for the policy (past or present). Is it a remedy for discrimination and wrongs from the past, or is it to have more diversity in the institutions of higher learning -- for the good of all in the classroom? Do donors prefer one reason over another? Yet, I do like the examples Bond made about "nobody beat Rodney King because he was poor" and that "no one says that discrimination that women face is about class not gender notions".

Julian Bond, the chairperson of the NAACP mentioned at two different points in the debate that the intent of Affirmative Action policy involves integrating Blacks and Whites from various cultures and life experiences to share the right of learning 'together'; although, it was Lee Bolinger who spent more time arguing that point. They seemed to be promoting the 'contact theory' ideology, hence, does this mean that the NAACP does not support Afrocentric Schools and/or Charter Schools? (my questions are not rhetorical - I would like to know)

I think that the 'Black' or 'African American' identity has been essentialized in a time that is no longer only 'African American'. This was mentioned somewhat in the conversation new black immigrants coming from the affluent and not-so-affluent backgrounds of the African continent and of the Caribbean. Their histories and experiences are vastly different than the historic African American, bearing in mind the various histories of oppression. Issues are different. Discrimination is still there for everyone, but I think the African Americans (and Indiginous populations) cycle of oppression has left cycles of hopelessness, where just being in America will not alleviate.
Permalink
AfrikaVenus Avatar
AfrikaVenus
Posts: 1
Posted: 09.28.09, 09:43 AM
Berkeley does have "legacy admission" so Dolton is mistaken. In addition, the SAT/ACT test are bias too. Overall, the debate was interesting. Julian Bond informs that Obama never designated a racial classification, so what! There is much disparity in education and it will continue.
Permalink
Please log in or register to post a comment.
Advertisement

Related Programs

Should Public Money Be Spent on Private Schools? Should Public Money Be Spent on Private Schools?
01:44:06 min | 523 Views
Charles Taylor: The Future of the Secular Charles Taylor: The Future of the Secular
01:19:38 min | 11,318 Views
Great Issues Forum: Power of Education Great Issues Forum: Power of Education
01:18:33 min | 4,616 Views
Alain de Botton in Conversation with Will Hearst Alain de Botton in Conversation with Will Hearst
00:09:13 min | 7,888 Views
Graphic Artist John Maeda Designs Technology's Human Side Graphic Artist John Maeda Designs Technology's Human Side
00:17:03 min | 5,492 Views

Browse Programs by Tag

Arts Books Climate Change Computing Conflict Credit Crunch Defense Democratization Economic Policy Education Election 2008 Emerging Markets Energy Entertainment Entrepreneurship Environment Film Food Globalization Health & Wellness Healthcare History Internet Investing Law Medicine Music Muslim World Natural Sciences New Media Personal Technology Philanthropy Religion Social Issues Social Sciences Sustainability Terrorism The Bailout U.S. Foreign Policy White House 2009

Advertisement