The historic election of Barack Obama this past November has reinvigorated the debate over race in America. It is obvious that great strides have been made in America in terms of race relations, but it would be a grave misjudgment to think that tensions have been completely dissolved with the election of our first black president. The Supreme Court has recently added a number of civil rights cases to its docket, the most publicized being the case of a group of white firefighters who have filed a lawsuit against the city of New Haven, Connecticut because they were denied promotions after passing the department’s promotion examination. The promotions were denied in favor of investigating why none of the black firefighters who took the test passed. This and other cases coming up the long ladder of the American court system indicate the changing nature of race relations. As race relations in America begin to transform, it would be wise for legislators to adapt policies to accommodate those changes while continuing to promote equality and avoiding discrimination of any individual, whether black or white. Legislators should begin battling racism from a socio-economic standpoint by revamping the American education system.
When discussing issues of race in America, it is important to keep in mind the full history of the struggle of black Americans to become fully incorporated into American society. From the unforgivable institution of slavery, to the struggle for emancipation, to the fight against segregation, all the way to the Oval Office, blacks in America have been fighting the steepest of uphill battles. On the one hand, it is important to realize that the struggle is not over, but on the other hand, that the nature of race relations in America has transformed dramatically. Institutional forms of explicit racism are at their lowest point in American history and larger portions of each generation since the Civil Rights Movement are being taught that all citizens in America are equals, regardless of race. This is not to say that racist people are non-existent, nor that institutions which propagate racism do not exist, but it must be acknowledged that great strides have been made, and that the forces which wish to hold back dialog, understanding, and brotherhood amongst people of different races no longer have the upper hand.
The case of the firefighters in Connecticut highlights the changing dimension of race relations in America. When the test results showed that no blacks had passed the exam, it was a legitimate cause for concern for the city, wondering if perhaps their test had been unintentionally biased against blacks. At the same time though, it shows a fear on the part of government officials to, ironically, stop discriminating based upon race. Assuming the test was not inherently biased against blacks, it raises an interesting question in terms of how the government should account for and correct disparities in ability between blacks and whites. It is time for the government to acknowledge that the disparity between the abilities of whites and blacks is in large part tied to socioeconomic status and that the solution is to correct those disparities by providing the tools necessary for people to maximize their potential.
According to 2007 US Census statistics, 8.2% of non-Hispanic white Americans live in poverty while 24.5% black Americans live in poverty. This means a disproportionate number of blacks are not able to access the same resources which allow whites to perform to their maximum potential in society. Poverty means poor education as well as increased crime, drug use, and gang activity. All of these factors work together against people who would otherwise be competitive individuals, able to get into schools and careers based upon their own merits. It can be assumed that blacks and whites who are placed in a positive environment from their youth onwards have an equal opportunity to maximize their potential, barring remnants of discriminatory thought and practice which still exist. When economic hardship is disproportionately affecting one ethnic group more than another, it will obviously manifest itself in decreased diversity in higher education and professional careers. Thus, the solution is to raise the living standards of the poorest citizens so that Americans of all races can have an equal opportunity to maximize their potential. In this way, government and school officials will not be forced to correct disparities between races at the end of the line, but rather, the problem can be taken care of before it even begins. In concrete terms, this means that the American education system needs to be revamped. Schools must be well-funded and teaching must become a profession that is held in high regard and which receives hefty compensation. This will attract the best and brightest individuals to become teachers and guide the nation’s youth toward fully realizing their capabilities. Affirmative action programs may continue in the short-term, but it is important to consider the long-term implications of such a practice and come up with a long-term solution to America’s ills.
Race relations in America have transformed radically since the days of our founding fathers. Blacks have made amazing strides to better their lives and a life of diversity is slowly becoming the preferred image of American society. It is important to respect the struggles of past individuals, both white and black, in creating a society in which whites and blacks can live amongst one another on an equal basis. The disparity between whites and blacks in the current day is no longer solely based upon institutional forces preventing people of different races from competing on an equal basis, but is rather tied in with economic disparities that exist in America and disproportionately affect blacks. Thus, the government should shift some of its focus on race relations from trying to balance the number of blacks and whites which are represented in institutions of government, education, and business, to creating an environment in which all Americans, regardless of their race, are able to maximize their potential. Revamping the education system is the next step in the struggle to provide equality for all Americans.
Michael Khavari’s column appears Wednesdays in The Cavalier Daily. He can be reached at m.khavari@cavalierdaily.com.
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