Is it fair to implement affirmative action policies to solve questions of racial.....
 

Is it fair to implement affirmative action policies to solve questions of racial inequality?

http://www.pbs.org/wnet/wideangle/shows/brazil2/

Brazil in Black and White



The Issue

As one of the most racially diverse nations in the world, Brazil has long considered itself a colorblind "racial democracy." But deep disparities in income, education and employment between lighter and darker-skinned Brazilians have prompted a civil rights movement advocating equal treatment of Afro-Brazilians. In Brazil, the last country in the Western Hemisphere to have abolished slavery, blacks today make up almost half of the total population -- but nearly two-thirds of the nation's poor. Institutions of higher education have typically been monopolized by Brazil's wealthy and light-skinned elite, and illiteracy among black Brazilians is twice as high as among whites. Now, affirmative action programs are changing the rules of the game, with many colleges and universities reserving 20% of spots for Afro-Brazilians. But with national surveys identifying over 130 different categories of skin color, including "cinnamon," "coffee with milk," and "toasted," who will be considered "black enough" to qualify for the new racial quotas?


The Film

"Am I black or am I white?" Even before they ever set foot in a college classroom, many Brazilian university applicants must now confront a question with no easy answer. BRAZIL IN BLACK AND WHITE follows the lives of five young college hopefuls from diverse backgrounds as they compete to win a coveted spot at the elite University of Brasilia, where 20 percent of the incoming freshmen must qualify as Afro-Brazilian. Outside the university, WIDE ANGLE reports on the controversial racial debate roiling Brazil through profiles of civil right activists, opponents of affirmative action, and one of the country's few black senators.

If you treat everyone equally and give everyone the same education and opportunities why is "positive discrimination" necessary?

What amazes me is "races" or "ethnic groups" always look outwards for the reason they are on skid row rather than inwards

Jobs and positions should be based on a meritocracy rather than some pc assholes pathetic attempt at justifying their own existence in a job

Lets get back to basics, treat everyone the same, and if they fuck up its regardless of race, creed or colour

"Positive discrimination", "affirmative action" or to give it its real name, "racism in favour of minorities" does nothing but breed resentment and insult those in minorities who make a success of their lives on their own merit

Yes, so I see.

You must spread some Reputation around before giving it to Savage Clone again.

that's a big "IF". and it doesn't happen.

I am slow on the intake here. They're implementing entry rules in universities to make sure at least 20% of those accepted are afro-brazilian?

Give him some credit. Everyone knows this. This whole thread is essentially discussing ways of approaching an ideal, and we all know what the scoop is.

yeah. good call.

the funny part (as the original post points out) i that in latin-america everybody has been fucking everybody for centuries, unlike in the u.s., and therefore "cinnamon" "milk and coffee" (ha ha) don't know who is what color.

true story: i have african ancestors, both black and north-african semites. but i'm a vague hue of beige.

anyway, gotta go.

It happens in the UK

Here so called minorities have more resources thrown at them than so called majorities resulting in over achievement by minorities and under achievement by the indigenous population regardless of race creed or colour

Alright. Well I don't know.. like it was called above, it's 'positive discrimination'. I think if applicants remained faceless/raceless it would be better for everyone- it shouldn't matter what racial background you have, it should be about intelligence.

Sorry if this seems like a low-brow reply or whatever..

the "positive discrimination" in the application is meant to make up for "negative discrimination" in the rest of the world. which is not a fiction.

ps- white people are often painfully unaware of racial discrimination, as they tend to be in the giving & not the receiving end of it, in spite of all "best intentions".

Well said

Treat everyone the same and get rid of the politically correct idiots who think ethnic groups need a leg up as their religion, race or colour is some sort of handicap

Out with political correctness, in with common sense

It's still discrimination. Somebody is still getting fucked over.

you're not getting the point of it. it's ok.

Okay, well nevermind.

Exactly, discrimination is discrimination however you dress it up

Why should it be illegal to discriminate against a "minority" and legal to discriminate against a "majority"?

Um, if you make a point we might get it

You just need to see this won't end good, just look in America.

Who was that directed at?

Everybody.