Harvard has more black students than ever, but are they African-American?

[Anonymous]

It makes me sad to read such resentful and ignorant comments about Africans. Have you ever heard of colonialism? I lived in Africa, and I can assure you, the racism directed by ex-colonial whites towards Africans is more extreme than the racism in this country. There were white people in my village that openly bragged about the number of Africans they had killed. It's ridiculous to suggest that Africans haven't had to deal with racism. And if you visit the homes of enough African immigrants, you'll see that most of them aren't rich at all. There are a lot of smart African Americans who haven't had a lot of opportunities, and there are a lot of Africans who haven't had a lot of opportunities. They both deserve a break, and they should be supporting each other, not cutting each other down. If you want to resent somebody for stealing your college spot, why not focus on the rich, legacy athlete?

[Anonymous]

I'm a strong supporter of affirmative action, because I think it helps compensate for many disadvantages in terms of opportunities, family educational background, and more. That said, we know at least three upper middle class families where there is 1 African American or American Indian grandparent and the other 3 grandparents are white, but the kids are claiming to be minorities on their college applications. Some of these families are quite wealthy and/or run organizations you've heard of.

So for some (but by no means for all!!!) families, affirmative action is starting to look like an upper middle class way to game the college application system. It brings a new dimension to questions about SES, racial identity and the purpose of affirmative action. I'm curious how others see this.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:African immigrants are taking the affirmative action spots that were to be filled by AA because of our history of slavery. AAs getting screwed again. This time by other blacks.

Hmm.... slavery is alive in well in many African countries right now, today. It still happens. Good think for the Africans that made it to Harvard that they didn't use slavery as an excuse

[Anonymous]

Get rid of affirmative action, a famous guy once said judge a person by the content of their character not the color of their skin. Swap out character with academics, tada that's america you bitches.

[Anonymous]

Not going to have this discussion on DCUM, that's for sure.

[Anonymous]

No. Upper class Africans have not been subjected to the instutuionalized racism in America that creates the need for affirmative action.

If upper class whites, jews and Asians can enter Harvard why can't upper class Africans? Or do you prefer to discriminate against upper class Africans in favor of upper class everyone else?

[Anonymous]

No, asshole, they are not subjected to the same form of racism and are well aware that they are not. Africans are free to process American slavery objectively. Actually, they're perceived as harmless, easier to deal with, and far less prone to retaliation, unless, of course, they're Somalians.

Nonsense, what planet do you live on or is your head stuck in the commode or sand?

[Anonymous]

The most socially and economically disadvantaged Africans rarely reach American shores. We get the creme de la creme. No useful comparison is possible.

I guess you can say the same about Asian immigrants to North America (usa and canada)?

[Anonymous]

Stunningly dull comments.

[Anonymous]

Like you? No so.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

No. Upper class Africans have not been subjected to the instutuionalized racism in America that creates the need for affirmative action.

If upper class whites, jews and Asians can enter Harvard why can't upper class Africans? Or do you prefer to discriminate against upper class Africans in favor of upper class everyone else?

This all begs the purpose of affirmative action. My understanding is that the purpose is to give disadvantaged kids a bump up - maybe 100-200 points are assumed on the SATs -- because they come from disadvantaged backgrounds with lousy schools, families that couldn't help them study algebra, et cetera. That's fine with me. I think that sort of affirmative action is a great thing.

But the upper middle class kids - Jews, Asians, African Americans and African immigrants, because there are upper middle class families in all of these categories - are in another category, IMO. Do they get a bump up just for being a different color or religion? Should those1/4 African American kids who are from very wealthy families get the 200 SAT points too? Or should all the upper middle class kids have to compete on the same playing field as upperclass everyone else?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:That is old news that the Ivies ... (Harvard and all of the others) prefer Africans to African Americans. They prefer the intense work habits of the immigrant populations.

Having come from England, I was really surprised at how different African Americans are versus Caribbean Africans, Euro Africans, or Africans. Not sure what will ever change the former's attitude or traits, but the differences are a source of puzzlement in Europe, for sure.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:African immigrants are taking the affirmative action spots that were to be filled by AA because of our history of slavery. AAs getting screwed again. This time by other blacks.

Or broken families,
Or poverty,
Or obesity,
Or wanna be a rapper syndrome,
Or big chips on their shoulders.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:African immigrants are taking the affirmative action spots that were to be filled by AA because of our history of slavery. AAs getting screwed again. This time by other blacks.

Those spots were specificly for AA because you were screwed over by slavery? What?

Why don't you read up on the reasoning for AA. What did you think it was for?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

No. Upper class Africans have not been subjected to the instutuionalized racism in America that creates the need for affirmative action.

If upper class whites, jews and Asians can enter Harvard why can't upper class Africans? Or do you prefer to discriminate against upper class Africans in favor of upper class everyone else?

This all begs the purpose of affirmative action. My understanding is that the purpose is to give disadvantaged kids a bump up - maybe 100-200 points are assumed on the SATs -- because they come from disadvantaged backgrounds with lousy schools, families that couldn't help them study algebra, et cetera. That's fine with me. I think that sort of affirmative action is a great thing.

But the upper middle class kids - Jews, Asians, African Americans and African immigrants, because there are upper middle class families in all of these categories - are in another category, IMO. Do they get a bump up just for being a different color or religion? Should those1/4 African American kids who are from very wealthy families get the 200 SAT points too? Or should all the upper middle class kids have to compete on the same playing field as upperclass everyone else?

Didn't P Diddy's (or whatever he calls himself these days) kid get a full ride scholarship from UCLA? Why? His dad his uber rich and powerful and could afford to give him many advantages that even well to do people could not. I think some other AA celeb's kid also recently got a similar scholarship.