Path: utzoo!utgpu!jarvis.csri.toronto.edu!mailrus!tut.cis.ohio-state.edu!ucsd!usc!aero!mingus@cbnewsl.ATT.COM
From: mingus@cbnewsl.ATT.COM (Damballah Wedo)
Newsgroups: soc.feminism
Subject: Re: Affirmative Action is Temporary
Message-ID: <2353@cbnewsl.ATT.COM>
Date: 19 Oct 89 12:54:37 GMT
References: <8910170205.AA13650@mimsy.UMD.EDU>
Sender: nadel@aerospace.aero.org
Reply-To: mingus@cbnewsl.ATT.COM (Damballah Wedo)
Organization: The Poto Mitan in the Houmfor
Lines: 26
Approved: nadel@aerospace.aero.org


> mangoe@cs.umd.edu (Charley Wingate) (in <8910170205.AA13650@mimsy.UMD.EDU>):
> It's pretty obvious that AA programs have the effect of increasing social
> tensions.  

It's not obvious to me. Can you elaborate on why AA programs increase
social tensions?

> AA programs have the effect of forcing division.  AA programs elicit the
> question, "is she any good, or is she here just because of AA?"

As opposed to the question that would otherwise be asked, which is
"why is she here, and not out making coffee or having babies or something?"
People who ask that question are simply expressing prejudices that are
present regardless of AA. I've been exposed to that reasoning many times:
she should not be here in the first place, because this is a man's job;
therefore, her being here at all must have been because of preferential
treatment forced on by AA programs.

As a black man, I've seen this mentality in action many times; I've also seen
it applied to black people (including myself.) The funniest part of it is
that AFTER you've proven to these people that you know what you're doing,
they use YOU as example of "the way it ought to be; take the most qualified."
-- 
Marcel-Franck Simon             mingus@attunix.ATT.COM, attunix!mingus

	" Papa Loko, ou se' van, ou-a pouse'-n ale'
	  Nou se' papiyon, n'a pote' nouvel bay Agwe' "