Systemic Pity

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There has been a lot of interesting commentary regarding the US Supreme Court ruling it’s unconstitutional for colleges to discriminate against students based on their race. California Governor Gavin Newsom said, “Equal opportunity has now been narrowed for millions of students,” even though affirmative action has been illegal in his state for decades. MSNBC host Joy Reid admitted she only got into Harvard because of affirmative action, yet students pointing that out made her freshman year miserable.

Some activists have downplayed or even ignored the damage done to Asian Americans. Qasim Rashid tweeted, “Affirmative action was never about admitting unqualified Black kids. It was always about ensuring qualified Black kids could also get accepted despite a world of systemic racism.” When I pointed out it was a racist policy that discriminated against Asians, I earned a quick block. NPR denied Asians were being discriminated against and alleged they were simply pawns, though they didn’t bother to cite any Asians who dissented from that opinion.

Some journalists have even gone a step further and shown contempt for Asians fighting for equal treatment. When Yiatan Chu posted the victory of affirmative action’s overturning, Soledad O’Brien replied, “Congrats on screwing over other people of color, ma’am! (Particularly those of whose efforts in civil rights paved the way for your family to come to America!).” Jemele Hill said Chu “gladly carried the water for white supremacy and stabbed the folks in the back whose people fought diligently for Asian American rights in America.”

The Obamas had a milder approach, yet they still wanted to uphold racial discrimination for the benefit of black students over Asians. Michelle said her “heart breaks” for students. The former president, who had the benefit of going to a prep school, admitted affirmative action wasn’t perfect. “But it allowed generations like Michelle and me to prove we belonged.”

Frederick Douglass had a different perspective:

"Everybody has asked the question...'What shall we do with the Negro?' I have had but one answer from the beginning. Do nothing with us! Your doing with us has already played mischief with us. Do nothing with us! If the apples will not remain on the tree of their own strength, if they are wormeaten at the core, if they are early ripe and disposed to fall, let them fall! I am not for tying or fastening them on the tree in any way, except by nature's plan, and if they will not stay there, let them fall. And if the Negro cannot stand on his own legs, let him fall also. All I ask is, give him a chance to stand on his own legs! Let him alone!"

If Frederick Douglass, a former slave, can say that in 1865, isn’t it ridiculous the former president (who is not a descendant of a slave, but rather a slaveowner) is saying the opposite in 2023?

When my father was a child and he saw a fellow black person working in a place of business, his automatic assumption was that they were probably exceptional at their job—if not the best worker there—because they had to overcome discrimination to obtain their position. Discrimination was just a fact of life, a hurdle to jump over. Nowadays, graduates have an asterisk next to their accomplishments because we don’t know if they got to where they are based on their skills and achievements.

No one should have to work harder to succeed based on the color of their skin, but that was, undoubtedly, happening to Asian Americans. The narrative now is that’s okay as long as it benefits black people. And instead of having confidence that plenty of minorities will rise to the occasion, they fear they will fail. Well, just because someone else needs a handicap to play the game doesn’t mean everyone else is incapable of winning in normal mode.

Years ago, I had a conversation with a woman about affirmative action and how it disadvantages Asian students. She paused for a moment and thought delicately about her words, “Well, I know if it was my child, I’d want them to have an advantage.”

My simple reply: “That’s because your daughter would be black.”

But what if your child wasn’t? Do Asian mothers love their children any less? Should they not at least fight for equal opportunity?

Racism isn’t going to solve racism. Discrimination isn’t going to solve discrimination. You’re only choosing winners and losers. Just because a black student makes it into college due to affirmative action doesn’t mean they aren’t talented and making the best of an advantage, but is it moral to make another minority group suffer systemic racism?

Black Americans don’t require systemic pity to succeed. We need what Douglass suggested: equality.