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Editor:
Proposition 209, the bill that would abolish affirmative action in California, passed with a ten point margin in the Nov. 5 elections. I think the passing of that bill is going to start a domino effect throughout this country. More and more states will now try to abolish a program that is intended to keep the playing ground fair between minorities and the majority. Do I care? No. Am I a minority? Yes. Do I care if women and minorities receive a fair share of the American dream? Of course I do. I do not care because I feel that we, as minorities, do not need it anymore. Do I think that this country has gotten to the point where all men are created equal and racial bias no longer exist? Hell no! I do believe that the power minorities and women possess is more potent than any program that the government is spoon feeding us with.
Sure affirmative action is a program that is intended to keep employers and educational institutions honest and it has worked, but why depend on it? We have so much combined strength that I feel it is not necessary to depend on anyone but ourselves. In order to be self sufficient, we have to start pooling our resources, supporting our businesses and educational institutions. This is not the 1950s where "white only" water fountains and riding in the back of the bus are a part of the norm.
This is a time when, yes there are still problems, but it is a time of "do for self." Just imagine if minorities and women supported businesses that were owned by minorities and women instead of the so-called "mainstream," the businesses would flourish and the opportunities would be abundant. For some strange reason we feel that if we are not working for white owned businesses or going to schools that are historically all white we will not make it. Why is that?
A minority owed computer company can do just as well as a white owned computer company. Morehouse or Howard University teaches the same math and English as Harvard University or Yale University. I just think that we are into excuses as for why we cannot or do not succeed. It is not the fault of the white man. Thirty years ago we could have used that excuse, but this is a new era. We have power in politics and finances and there is no reason why we should not take sole advantage of it. As long as we know we have a crutch, we will lean on it instead of walking at full speed.
Now, I do not want this letter to be misinterpreted. I am not saying that we should separate from the majority and develop our own society. I am saying that if we support our companies and schools that compete with those that affirmative action intends us to be a part of, we won't need any program that keeps the playing ground fair. It will be fair.
Let's take the positive that affirmative action has done for us and put it to good use, and when it is time to bury the whole program, lets not get upset and cry boo-hoo-hoo, lets get together and do for self.
Peace.
Anthony L. Pinkins
psychology senior
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