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From: oneil@zeus.unomaha.edu (Truth or Dare?)
Newsgroups: soc.feminism
Subject: Re: Top of the Heap...
Message-ID: <16141.28540e7e@zeus.unomaha.edu>
Date: 11 Jun 91 05:11:16 GMT
References: <9106032330.AA00815@cwns9.INS.CWRU.Edu> <15849.284d767d@zeus.unomaha.edu> <9106101928.AA17594@greenber.austin.ibm.com>
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In article <9106101928.AA17594@greenber.austin.ibm.com>, jfh@rpp386.cactus.org (John F Haugh II) writes:

[Deleted: I argue that it is a fallacy that Asian Americans are the "model
minority" -- just because many Asian Americans are succeeding does not mean
that all Asian Americans are enjoying scholastic and financial success.]

> There are about as many whites below the poverty line as there are
> blacks in the entire population.  This is one of the reasons anti-AA
> people give as an objection.  The whole notion that "whites" or
> "Asians" or whatever are at the top of some mythical heap is absolute
> CRAP.
>
> However, the typical Asian in this country is doing better than the
> average citizen.  This isn't "quite a myth" any more than the success
> the average Jew is enjoying.  You are free to review the census data
> for these population groups if you have any questions.

	Given that only 12% of the US population is African American, I
	must concede that you are correct.  There are more whites below
	the poverty level than there are blacks in the entire population.
	But to say that eliminates the need for AA is jumping the gun --
	it is a LOT easier for a white male to succeed in this country
	than for a black, Asian, or a woman.  A black male has a better
	chance of getting shot or getting sent to jail than he does of
	succeeding financially.  I think that there's got to be a reason
	for this -- and it is NOT inherent.  I believe that cultural
	genocide, stereotype, and institutional racism (and sexism, in the
	case of women) make it easier for white males to succeed.

	Here we go again, folx...

[Indeed.  Followups to this topic will be restricted, as AA pro/con
arguments of this type are as inflammatory as abortion pro/con
arguments.  Please only contribute something if it is not a rehash of
the two basic arguments outlined above.  Thanks.  --CTM]

--
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  Sharon Lindsey O'Neil  	  "I could be happy/I could be quite naive/
  Bitnet: oneil@unomai1		   It's only me and my shadow/Happy in our
  Internet: oneil@zeus.unomaha.edu 	make believe/Soon." -- Tears for Fears
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