Affirmative Action Change: Already in Barack's Plan

Email Print posted by chrisandyasemin 10/15/2008 09:55:16 AM EST

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On yesterday's show Cenk talked about his "prophecy" that Obama will change affirmative action to include poor white people.  THe only problem??

That's already part of Barack's plan.  He has been intending to make affirmative action needs based instead of race based at LEAST since the primaries.  Seems like Obama HASN'T been giving the same stump speech all along, because in the speech I saw he talked about his affirmative action plan as well as his plan to increase the number of volunteers for community service by offering college credit for giving service.

Chris

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Affirmative Action Change: Already in Barack's Plan | 2 comments (2 topical, 0 hidden)
Awesome (none / 0)
I've been making the same argument for years, that the simple solution (if there is such a thing) for the Affirmative Action debate is to make it needs based (i.e. what is your socioeconomic status) rather than race based.

This accomplishes two things:

1)-It helps everyone who needs it, regardless of race. But most of the people covered by the old version of affirmative action will be covered with the new version.


2)-It changes the perception of the program in a way that reduces unnecessary racial tension and resentment. No more conservative pundits and angry white people saying that "blacks have MORE opportunities than whites", etc.


I know, it's not a panacea, but it's a no-brainer. Does it change the fact that equally qualified black applicants are far less likely to get call backs because of their name (per that study that Cenk has referenced in the past) compared to white candidates (or candidates with Caucasian sounding names)?


No, but there is no cure-all available at the moment.

by ihavenobias on 10/15/2008 01:43:43 PM EST

i don't use affirmative action (none / 0)
so theoretically we already live in an age when middle class and above black people don't need to use affirmative action...although my name sounds pretty white, i fill out "other" on college applications, but to the layperson I would be considered black.

Chris

by chrisandyasemin on 10/15/2008 02:42:46 PM EST

Affirmative Action Change: Already in Barack's Plan | 2 comments (2 topical, 0 hidden)
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