Global Courant
People of color know the sting of a certain kind of innuendo. It can arise in the classroom or workplace and take the form of a subtle disapproval, a direct insult, or a sidelong glance. The implication, they say, is clear: that others think they are only there because of affirmative action.
An unintended consequence of a policy designed to encourage diversity is that it can be used as a weapon to make people feel like they don’t belong, as everyone in the room thinks they were accepted or promoted because of their skin color. Although the Supreme Court has denied college admissions on the basis of race, black and Latino Americans told The Times they wonder if this stigma will continue.
They had differing views on the effectiveness and merits of affirmative action, and on ways to better reflect the nation’s demographics in the classroom and boardroom. All discussed how policies with a purpose they truly believe in can be used to belittle them. This is what they told us.
