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Trump Says Affirmative Action Is a Form of White Oppression

According to The New York Times, the Trump administration plans to investigate discrimination towards white people linked to affirmative action.

This seems to be another “whitelash” tactic when the administration feels as if their privilege is being threatened therefore they disguise it as a form of oppression. Although the U.S. has improved when it comes to inclusiveness, there is plenty of room for improvement.

Here are 5 reasons the U.S. still needs affirmative action:

1. Students benefit from diversity

Research revealed that interacting with other students of different ethnic backgrounds has a positive impact on academic achievement and collaboration. Diversity on college campuses benefits all students by giving them a better understanding and appreciation of cultural and economic differences and prepares students to work in a global society.

2. Race-neutral policies just DON’T work

When universities are “colorblind” that gives them a chance to be just as a discriminatory as they are accepting when it comes to minorities. Of course, the acceptance rate of minorities will decrease, and universities will suddenly blame it on other factors such as GPA and test scores.

3. National security benefits from diversity

Racial profiling and frisking is a national problem, and the chances of this happening will decrease by hiring more minorities. In hundreds of police departments across the country, the percentage of whites on the force is more than 30 percentage points higher than in the communities they serve. When an officer can’t relate or understand a particular ethnic group, they are more likely to judge. There is a duty of police officers to “mirror the community.” Diversity also gives an advantage with foreign affairs; it guarantees effective communication and allows broader perspectives when dealing with global issues.

4. The Education Gap

Black and Hispanic youth tend to be the most impoverished in the country. About 23% of all black households live in poverty, while the rate of Hispanics living in poverty is decreasing they still follow black households. Poorer neighborhoods do not receive the same educational support as wealthier ones, therefore leaving the poorer students ill-prepared for higher education. Affirmative action gives them the chances they deserved while attending under resourced schools during K-12.

5. This policy does not discriminate against NPOC and simultaneously gives minorities a greater chance than usual

The whole purpose of affirmative action is to give everyone an equal chance regardless of ethnicity, gender, or economic background in the work field and/or school and not to diminish the likelihood of white students or workers getting accepted.

Conservatives believe that a direct result of affirmative action leads to the discrimination of white people, but the truth is everyone benefits from the policy. In no way are the jobs and education of white people threatened by affirmative action. It guarantees innovation and creation in work places, prepares students for the future, and ensures in qualification no matter what gender or race of the applicant. As a diverse country our schools and work places must reflect the demographics of the nation.

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