Affirmative Action: A Necessary Band-Aid for a Systemic Wound

I recently had a conversation with a dear old friend. We had had this conversation many times dating back to college years. Back then, we argued lacking the sufficient articulate our arguments. Today, however, it was different and we found a point on which we could both agree. I said...

"Think of it this way. America has a gash of injustice that is bleeding systemic inequity. Affirmative action as a Band-Aid did not solve the bleeding of systemic inequity, it reduced it ever so slightly. But without it, the gash is open and bleeding heavily. Does that make sense?"

America has a gash of injustice that is bleeding systemic inequity. This gash is the result of centuries of discrimination against people of color. Affirmative action is a very small way to reduce the bleeding from this gash, but it does not close the gash entirely.

For more information, read: "Here's what happened when affirmative action ended at California public colleges."

Without affirmative action, the gash would be open and bleeding heavily. This would mean that people of color would continue to be denied opportunities in education, employment, and housing. We would continue to see a segregated society with a widening gap between the rich and the poor. See Study.

Affirmative action is not a perfect solution, but it is a necessary one. It is a way to stop the bleeding from the gash of injustice until we can find a way to close the gash entirely.

Here are some ways to close the gash of injustice:

• Invest in K-12 education, especially in low-income communities.
• Provide affordable housing for all people.
• End mass incarceration.
• Reform the criminal justice system.
• Address the legacy of redlining and other forms of housing discrimination.
• Promote diversity and inclusion in all aspects of society.

Affirmative action is a band-aid, but it is a necessary band-aid. We need to continue to work to close the gash of injustice, but we cannot do it without affirmative action.

What do you think? Is affirmative action a necessary band-aid? What else can we do to close the gash of injustice?

For more ways to close the gash of injustice, read: "Just Action" by Richard and Leah Rothstein .

#SocialJustice #EquityMatters #AffirmativeAction #SystemicChange #Inclusion #Diversity