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The election of Barack Obama to the presidency is an historic moment whose significance has not been unnoticed. Americans of all backgrounds, races, and religions recognize the symbolic importance of an African-American ascending to the highest office in the country. Particularly people of color are acknowledging that indeed, America is truly is the land of opportunity. And as Colin Powell put it when he endorsed Obama that this vindicated a “7-year-old Muslim-American kid believing that he or she could be president” (referring to Barack’s childhood.) There are African Americans on the Supreme Court, throughout Congress and the Senate, our Secretary of State, among other high positions in government and leaders in business. So if there is no limitation in this country on what an African American can do, and, by their own merits than can achieve financial and political success, why then do we still have Affirmative Action? This is not to say that there is not still racism in both this country and throughout the world. There will always be ignorant people who hate other people for capricious reasons. Affirmative Action wasn’t supposed to eradicate opinions or feelings. Just ensure that people of color and minorities have the same opportunities that the majority has. And I think that, beyond a shadow of a doubt, it was proven on November 4th that those opportunities can be realized by anyone in this country. So what role does Affirmative Action serve today? Sadly, all it can really do at this point is keep racial categories and distinctions alive. Many people have recognized over the last few years that race-based programs and set-asides only reinforce the erroneous idea that certain races are inferior and need government help to compete with the historic majority in this country. Every year, the EOEC receives numerous complaints from Caucasians that were discriminated against in their job, and the culprit is not a racist, but the actual policies created by Affirmative Action. Thus, Affirmative Action actually creates the same moral evil it originally sought to remedy. And these racist policies spill over into shaping the opinions of those who witness them. Whites may perceive that the deck is “stacked against them” because they can’t qualify for government programs that are reserved just for minorities or women. This year, for example, the GSA announced that the one of the primary evaluators in awarding government contracts was going to be whether or not the bidding business was minority or women owned. Michael Rigas, the deputy associate administrator for the Office of Small Business Utilization in the GSA said that “contracting officers ordering via GSA’s Schedules may make socioeconomic status (defined as being minority or women owned) a primary evaluation factor when making a best value determination”. Businesses go under because they can’t bid on contracts…simply because the owner is white. Such is the unintended consequences of Affirmative Action. Obama campaigned as a “post-racial” candidate. However, the biggest perpetrator of racism in this country is our own Federal Government. If we really want to be “post racial” as a country, we have to deconstruct the programs that are inherently racist- and that is anything which makes policy and decisions based on race. Affirmative Action must be eliminated. Only then can we move ahead with a colorblind society.
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