Poll: Are scholarships designated for African-Americans racist?

[Talshere]

Er, no, they're not. Unless you're trying argue that vile 'White people are the REAL victims of racism!!!' bullshit. In which case not only are you wrong, you're a worthless twat who should summarily eat a bullet made of shit.

There cannot be equality until the stop treating themselves differently. Its not enough that we see them as equal. They have to see themselves as equal. If they feel that a scholarship needs to be available for others like them, they are not treating themselves as equals.

 

[Swarley]

Maybe if the world was less racist people with disadvantages wouldn't need these opportunities.

 

[Ironic Pirate]

Scholarships should be based on income and things like that, because the whole point is to help people pay for college that otherwise couldn't. Assuming some random person of some random race couldn't is racist.

 

[Master Taffer]

They are scholarships based on race rather than merit and therefore are racist. If they are government awards these scholarships then yes, they should go away. In all honesty, the government shouldn't be giving out scholarships in the first place.

However, if a private organization like the NAACP wants to award a scholarship then it's their money and their call.

 

[Vryyk]

No.

Now, scolarships as a whole in the early stages of higher education are in fact fucking classist and only need to be in place when public education is lacking. Once you need to rely on scholarships to prevent an absolute perpetuation of caste from one generation to the next, which already means that your society is morally and structurally bankrupt, you might as well be realistic about it and not pretend that you're giving them out to people of merit somehow.

Scholarships are given so that the people you are oppressing have a chance to not be oppressed later so that they will put all that poor people energy they have into studying instead of going to your house with a baseball bat and a shotgun and taking all your rich people stuff. You might as well break them down so that you help more the people that statistically need more help.

Now, that thar's a lot of fancy wordin's you've stitched together, but all the "egregious vocabulary" in the world wouldn't help the fact that what you are saying is copy-pasted bullshit.

If people like you could get over the fact that all rich people are not "jackbooted fascists maaaaan" and actually work to elevate your standing, maybe I'd have more respect for your ilk.

My parents started fourteen-hundred miles from home with two kids, an old jeep and twenty-five dollars to their name, but instead of whining, they *gasp* got jobs. Eighteen years later they have a house valued at four-hundred thousand, three nice cars and a full pantry. Now that's the fucking American Dream.

 

[BlumiereBleck]

Yes, all minority scholarships are.

 

[Lilani]

snip

I have never found that to be a valid argument. How is punishing our children and tainting their experiences for mistakes made by people who died a century ago fair? I understand what happened back then was awful, and if I had the power to do so, I would personally go back and keep any of it from happening. I think most everyone here would.

But the fact is it did happen, and now we have two options: We can accept that it happened and move on, or let the wound fester and keep picking at the scab so that it never heals properly.

I whole-heartedly support scholarships and the people who sponsor them, but I don't think racism will ever go away if we keep drawing color-coded lines wherever we can.

 

[Ken Sapp]

*Sigh* I am so going to get trolled for this, but here it goes...
The slaves that built this country up to be what it is today were never thanked and never rewarded for their efforts (kind of comes with being a slave...) I feel we owe something to the African American community to make up for the past. I know that nobody here has ever personally subjugated another (I certainly hope not), but we still enjoy the long term benefits of their ancestors' sufferings. That will never feel right to me.

Also, the whole "If it was a scholarship just for Caucasians..." argument is flawed. Caucasian males have never had to endure institutionalized, hate-based discrimination. This practice targeted the African American community well up until the late 60s, and it takes a very long time for a community to heal from something like that.

So in short, no. It's not racist, it's justified.

EDIT: No, I'm not saying that anyone here, personally, is a racist. I just think that the scholarships and NAACP are well justified.

I won't Troll you, I will merely disagree. NO ONE is owed any compensation for anything other than what they themselves have accomplished or caused to be.

 

[Kenko]

it doesn't matter who these scholarships favour, if they favour because of race then its racist. so i'm gonna go and tick the top option k thx bai

Pretty much was this guy said. Its racist.

 

[crudus]

I'm aware that there are other countries in the world other than the US, and that people from them also use the Escapist forums. That is why I said "In the US," which is where my original basis of comparison came from when I made this thread.

I was using world statistics. Although upon thinking about it that would make white people a minority.

 

[Jandau]

I wish they'd do Affirmative Action based on class rather than race...

 

[Daffy F]

I don't think it matters really, it's just PR anyways. Although it does seem a tad unfair that they should specify race, I think they do it because if not a single 'African American' (Sorry, but I hate to use that term) got a scholarship, then the school could be accused of being racist themselves, which they really don't want. It seems a bit ironic that they'd respond by being racist, but whatever, their call.

 

[Flauros]

Scholarships designed for African Americans and other groups were a good idea, AT FIRST. They were originally designed to actually prevent racism. They were created to help get more minorities into a colleges and schools that had almost none. This helped because a large percentage of the population was racist and when comparing applications of two identical people, one of which was white and one of which was black, more often than not the white applicant would be chosen. So laws were put in place specifying colleges and employers had to hire/accept a certain number of minorities and the scholarships were designed to help draw more minorities.

Now however I would say the average person is not nearly as racist as they were back when these were first designed and it's now approaching a reverse racism, where when comparing two identical applicants colleges and employees will more often than not hire the minority to help themselves get extra funding from the Government for having a certain number of minorities. I feel that if they did away with this completely than maybe we will have a chance for true equality.

Please google Birthers, Tea Party, and Middle America

 

[DuctTapeJedi]

*Sigh* I am so going to get trolled for this, but here it goes...
snip my wall of text

I won't Troll you, I will merely disagree. NO ONE is owed any compensation for anything other than what they themselves have accomplished or caused to be.

Yes, that makes sense, but I'm saying that the social scars of the past are still hurting people now. It's like breaking some one's leg at the beginning of a marathon run, and getting upset when they're still running slower a mile later.

Also, thank you for not being a troll.

-------
EDIT:
Sorry, I only just noticed this reply. However the reason I said above with the race analogy still applies to your argument. I understand the intent behind both of your opinions, I just disagree with the opinions themselves.
Also, thanks to you, as well for not being trollish.

snip

I have never found that to be a valid argument. How is punishing our children and tainting their experiences for mistakes made by people who died a century ago fair? I understand what happened back then was awful, and if I had the power to do so, I would personally go back and keep any of it from happening. I think most everyone here would.

But the fact is it did happen, and now we have two options: We can accept that it happened and move on, or let the wound fester and keep picking at the scab so that it never heals properly.

I whole-heartedly support scholarships and the people who sponsor them, but I don't think racism will ever go away if we keep drawing color-coded lines wherever we can.

 

[Gudrests]

Spoiler: spoiler'd for size

it's racist, but it's necessary. maybe in another 50 years we'll have advanced to a point where affirmative action and african-american scholarships and the NAACP aren't necessary, but right now they're the better of several evils.

by all rights what your saying right here is that African-Americans are not capable of doing what the majority is capable of doing so they need extra help money wise in order to do it? that dosent sound right to me. What makes a black student need more help than a white student? is it because he is white that he MUST have tons of money? or that it means he went to a private school?...does it mean that he is higher in a social order that apparently exists so scholarships have to be given to an african-american to help him climb that social latter? to me that sounds racist. "lets give to one group of people based on there skin color because they CLEARLY are not able to do what everyone else is capable of doing" to me that sounds quite dumb. In all honesty NOTHING should be White/Black/Chinese/whateveryouwanttobecalled only in this country. If you sign up for a job, unless you are physically or mentally disabled there is no reason you should not be able to do what everyone else can do.

Unless of course the race of people as a whole would like to admit that they are infact not as smart/strong/fast as everyone else, and that the average one of them cannot compete with the average of a majority. But i truthfully don't see that happening any time soon. I think we are all equal now. HELL the leader of the most powerfull country in the world is an African-American....that should be proof right there

it's not that they are less capable, it's that there is still a TON of racism (and let's face it, while racism goes both ways, it hurts blacks more than the rest of us, since they tend toward the economic minority) in this country. the fact is, even blacks who are scholastically equal to their white counterparts will often be at a disadvantage for scholarships because discrimination isn't gone (basically, all other things being equal, the whiter man usually wins). i too had high hopes for the election of our first black president, but if anything Obama's election has only proven just how far we still have to go.

I know there is racism but you would be supprised how little it is now...does it exist YES OH YES OHHHH YESS GOD YES, but that does not mean much in most areas. And here is an example of why it was racist. My dad was a police officer and took the Sargent test. He scored somewhere from an 89-96 (forgot the number) the african american cop who took it got a 65. Who do you think got the promotion. Was the test racist? was the time clock racist? i truthfully doubt it. i have never seen a test be racist unless it gives every black person in the room a papercut and every white person $100 bucks. Ive also never seen a clock lie to a black person and tell him "OHH NO man you got like an hour to get ready" and it say to a white person "ok you have 10 more minutes left i already started your car and i called your wife and said happy birthday" then again...i could be wrong. If you want to make a charity and make it so blacks and whites and everyone inbetween can get what they want fine. if a black person wants someone from there old neighborhood to get a scholarship. fine. but what makes the black person need a job more than i do. Hell the only reason i have a job is because i got a lucky break and my mother's job had an opening, but besides that i was SOL.

In short "Equal Opportunity" needs to change a bit...it should not mean just equal reward. It should mean EVERYONE who works....works. If your a black/white/woman/man/asian/ANYTHING/ a combination of all of them. If you do the job you get payed, and you do exactly what your coworker does, im talking women in the military blacks whites EVERYONE.. If everyone does there work and earns it. I dont see why not.Even if a certian people did in face oppress another group of people in the past...Did i do it? Did my family directly oppress that individual's family to the point that 100 years later they can still not get back on there feet? I truthfully dont think so considering that the first of my family to be born here was 110 years ago

EDIT: im soo sorry for that wall of text lol....lets just say I have strong feelings for this topic

don't be sorry. i understand your strong feelings. i, too, used to rail against the injustice and stupidity of Affirmative Action. however, i've been out in the world enough now to see that racism is alive and well. i don't blame anyone for feeling that Affirmative Action is a bad thing, i simply would argue that the alternative is even worse.

also, another thing i'd like to clear up: some people have been making statements to the effect that the government provides black-only scholarships. this is untrue. black scholarships are provided by private groups, such as churches and the NAACP. the only effect of the government on "reverse racism" is as it applies to Affirmative Action.

which i think we all can agree "Affirmative Action" is dumb as can be. If you work hard enough for it you will get it. and if you dont have it yet....well then dammit work harder for it.

 

[NapoleonWilson]

You raise an interesting point however, I think you are incorporating something not addressed in the original post. Employment issues are a bit different. Government has decided that issues like Employment, housing(apartment renting)and other typically private business issues can be regulated because these subjects are essential to life and liberty. Any reasonabele person would agree that having a job is typically required in order to live in this society, so is having shelter. Because of these topics are basic requirements for life, it has been decided that Government can regulate to a certain degree the private market. Without this regulation it would be possible to create a situation where the masses could "terrorize" a minority group, making life much more difficult or impossible. Indeed, this has happened in the past which is why it became compulsory for the Government to act.

Private charitable donations are not subject to this regulation. If I give a thousand dollars to a Breast Cancer charity, I do not have to give a thousand dollars to a Testicular Cancer Charity. If I give a thousand dollars to the United Negro College Fund, I am not required to therefore give a thousand dollars to a United Caucasion College Fund.
A charitable organization is not requisite as an essential part of an individuals right to life liberty and freedom the way jobs or housing are. Therefore, the Government should have no right to regulate or force conformity upon where a private charitable institution allocates it's resources.

although I feel your point does not really pertain to the original post it is thoughtful non-the-less. I appreciate your comment though, it is nice to know someone took the time to read the post.
thanks,...
napoleon

 

[Odegauger]

Hey, can you be sued or charged if you apply for a minority scholarship without being a minority?

 

[DarkRyter]

They're racist, but it's racist in the same way most restrooms are sexist.

In that people pee in both of them.

 

[Icarion (aka Stockholm)]

Scholarships designed for African Americans and other groups were a good idea, AT FIRST. They were originally designed to actually prevent racism. They were created to help get more minorities into a colleges and schools that had almost none. This helped because a large percentage of the population was racist and when comparing applications of two identical people, one of which was white and one of which was black, more often than not the white applicant would be chosen. So laws were put in place specifying colleges and employers had to hire/accept a certain number of minorities and the scholarships were designed to help draw more minorities.

Now however I would say the average person is not nearly as racist as they were back when these were first designed and it's now approaching a reverse racism, where when comparing two identical applicants colleges and employees will more often than not hire the minority to help themselves get extra funding from the Government for having a certain number of minorities. I feel that if they did away with this completely than maybe we will have a chance for true equality.

Yeah this is how I feel. Of course I wont be complaining when I get the "Grandson of a Jewish veteran" Scholarship. Another point, there are "racist" scholarships for evereyone. Like the one I'll get. I'm sure if you look there are scholarships for eastern Europeans descendants, exchange students, people from western Europe. Chatolics, Jews, Muslims, Hindu's. Go ahead and look. There are literaly millions of scholarships, big and small, racist and equal oppuronity. This isn't nesscisarily (can't spell sorry) a good or bad thing. It just is