How would you respond to THIS comment??

[Tweet]

"Pretty soon the whites are going to be minority!" followed by, "There isn't a need for Affirmative Action these days".

So, what would your response? Do you think those two comments are thinly veiled racist comments? Do you agree with the comments?

[QuiltyConscience]

Hmm It would depend on the rest of the conversation, I think.

White is the minority in Memphis. With Biracial couple being more accepted socially now in many places, it would make sense that in years to come there won't be as many people who are strictly of one race one way or the other . So yeah, probably at some point "white " will likely be a minority. So that statement alone, isn't good or bad. meh.

I can think of a lot of situations where Affirmative action is not always a good thing. So there again, by itself, meh.

But I'm guessing there was some other stuff that pinged your radar.

[zanie]

I've heard white liberals use the first comment. As in, you might as well get used to minorities being in charge now. Let's see how you like it. More of an "in your face" comment because a black man is president.

It's a little offensive in that context, but probably quite true.

[Tweet]

Hmm It would depend on the rest of the conversation, I think.

White is the minority in Memphis. With Biracial couple being more accepted socially now in many places, it would make sense that in years to come there won't be as many people who are strictly of one race one way or the other . So yeah, probably at some point "white " will likely be a minority. So that statement alone, isn't good or bad. meh.

I can think of a lot of situations where Affirmative action is not always a good thing. So there again, by itself, meh.

But I'm guessing there was some other stuff that pinged your radar.


Not really. Well, other than the fact that it just seemed like an odd thing to say. I didn't say anything in response because I couldn't think of anything TO say. I changed the subject. It didn't have any context..just out of nowhere. It was MIL that said it, if that means anything lol. The two comments separately don't seem weird, but putting them together made me wonder if she was kind of testing the water to say something else.

ETA I've lived where white is the minority,but don't now. And I didn't agree with her 2nd comment,but didn't want to engage in a big debate with her about it, either.

[pawprint]

With five minutes worth of googling i can't find anything that says that the percentage of 'white' people in the US is less that 69%, so if nothing else- it's damn inaccurate.

[QuiltyConscience]

What is?

[Tweet]

Ithink PAw means it's inaccurate to say that white people will be a minority. Or maybe she means it's inaccurate to say they are a minority now.

[Justicedog]

With five minutes worth of googling i can't find anything that says that the percentage of 'white' people in the US is less that 69%, so if nothing else- it's damn inaccurate.


I think the reports and studies I've heard or read say that at some point in the next 50 years, because of immigration and child birth trends, whites will no longer be the majority in the US.

[Babyblue]

it all depends on the company you are in. with my family we talk how it would be nice to be the minority, or a minority the us government accepts, to get more points on the civil service exam.

[KerryS]

I've never been a fan of Affirmative Action. I think EOE laws have made AA obsolete.

[JudyJudyJudy]

Honestly, I agree, at least somewhat, with the comments. There are many cities and even some entire states where whites are not the majority. The projection is that by 2042, nationwide, whites will no longer be the majority (I think it will happen before that). At this rate, whites truly will be most likely be the minority at some point in the 21st Century.

As liberal as I am in most areas, I do not support affirmative action.

[Babyblue]

I've never been a fan of Affirmative Action. I think EOE laws have made AA obsolete.

I dislike affirmative action for the fact that it discriminates against some minority's. my family is part native American and it does nothing for us. if we were the same percentage African American then it would not discriminate.

[JudyJudyJudy]

I will add that in areas where whites are already the minority, they are quite discriminated against, yet no affirmative action applies to their situations.

[BeanBabies]

I'm not a huge fan of AA, either.

And I've heard quite a few people comment on how whites will no longer be the minority, and it doesn't them one little bit. It scares the hell out of them.

[QuiltyConscience]

Honestly, I agree, at least somewhat, with the comments. There are many cities and even some entire states where whites are not the majority. The projection is that by 1942, nationwide, whites will no longer be the majority (I think it will happen before that). At this rate, whites truly will be most likely be the minority at some point in the 21st Century.

As liberal as I am in most areas, I do not support affirmative action.

We had 1942 already. 2042?:hugegrin:

[JudyJudyJudy]

We had 1942 already. 2042?:hugegrin:
I live in the past. :p

I'll edit it. :D

[QuiltyConscience]

I'm not a huge fan of AA, either.

And I've heard quite a few people comment on how whites will no longer be the minority, and it doesn't them one little bit. It scares the hell out of them.


It doesn't what them?

Why does it scare them? What's scary about it?

I don't think that it will shift to one particular race being the majority. More of a blend of races so there won't really be just one box that people can check. or much of a need for the boxes in the first place.

[JudyJudyJudy]

http://abcnews.go.com/Politics/wireStory?id=5575766

White Americans No Longer a Majority by 2042

Whites no longer a majority by 2042 as immigration and birth rates fuel minority growth

By STEPHEN OHLEMACHER Associated Press Writer
WASHINGTON August 13, 2008 (AP)

White people will no longer make up a majority of Americans by 2042, according to new government projections. That's eight years sooner than previous estimates, made in 2004.

[BeanBabies]

It doesn't what them?

Why does it scare them? What's scary about it?

I don't think that it will shift to one particular race being the majority. More of a blend of races so there won't really be just one box that people can check. or much of a need for the boxes in the first place.
I meant to say..."they don't like it one bit"...and please don't ask me how I got from one to the other. "lol9"

They're afraid of being the minority. They're afraid of being treated in the manner that they treat minorities.

[Justicedog]

http://abcnews.go.com/Politics/wireStory?id=5575766

Nice to have Judy here to back up my "I think I read some study that..." comments. :)

[JudyJudyJudy]

I meant to say..."they don't like it one bit"...and please don't ask me how I got from one to the other. "lol9"

They're afraid of being the minority. They're afraid of being treated in the manner that they treat minorities.
"They" who? IME, most "theys" of today haven't mistreated minorities. I suspect they fear being treated like minorities were treated by whites in the past. Unfortunately, since I've heard such comments made by minorities, especially when I was teaching, I think in some places, by some people, that is a cause for concern.

[Justicedog]

"They" who? IME, most "theys" of today haven't mistreated minorities. I suspect they fear being treated like minorities were treated by whites in the past. Unfortunately, since I've heard such comments made by minorities, especially when I was teaching, I think in some places, by some people, that is a cause for concern.


Yes, I agree with this.

[BeanBabies]

"They" who? IME, most "theys" of today haven't mistreated minorities. I suspect they fear being treated like minorities were treated by whites in the past. Unfortunately, since I've heard such comments made by minorities, especially when I was teaching, I think in some places, by some people, that is a cause for concern.

Yes, I suppose that could also be true.

[Tweet]

MIL sounded fearful of whites becoming a minority. Now, what she's fearing,I don't know. I don't get what's sooo scary about it. My reaction in my head was, "So the fuck what?". I immediately got the image of the scene in Farenheit 9/11 where the white men were afraid of the black people with guns. Knowing her,she likely is afraid that the whites will become mistreated . I only say that because of something she slipped up and said when I was pregnant with DS. I think she thinks that minorities now are beneath whites.

[JudyJudyJudy]

Tweet, these may be the types of things your mil fears. These are just a few examples of cases that were won.

Librarians get $25 million in reverse discrimination case against Fulton (http://atlanta.bizjournals.com/atlanta/stories/2002/01/14/daily40.html)

The suit is the fourth major reverse discrimination suit Fulton County has lost recently.


Jacksonville Firefighters Win Reverse Discrimination Lawsuit (http://www.firstcoastnews.com/news/local/news-article.aspx?storyid=52938)


City will pay for MPD discrimination case (http://media.www.marquettetribune.org/media/storage/paper1130/news/2005/04/14/News/City-Will.Pay.For.Mpd.Discrimination.Case-2631489.shtml)

[SingingMom]

I don't love affirmative action, either. With EOE laws in place, AA feels... condescending to me. I don't know that we need affirmative action the way we need better schooling for poor neighborhoods.

I live in an area where whites are DEFINITELY the minority. So far, that seems to be okay to me.

Also, the next generation of my family won't be "white". That's okay with me, too. In fact, it seems to me that the children in my family (and my nieces, and nephews) are all unreasonably bright and good-looking. Just like yours.

[tata]

Affirmative Action sucks on many levels. I don't think things are equal, but I also don't think AA has done much recently to even the playing field. I do think that there is a vested interest by many people of various colors to keep AA intact.

[JudyJudyJudy]

I don't know that we need affirmative action the way we need better schooling for poor neighborhoods.
I agree with this. However, I'm not sure how to accomplish this. IME, the biggest factor in a student's success, regardless of the race of the student, is based on the value his/her parents or guardians place on education. Statistics show that putting more money into a school doesn't necessarily improve it.

[SingingMom]

Yup, it's true, Judy. Parents are the key indicators of academic success. And what's more, I think the whole community has to demand good schooling and then support it.

You could throw money at our local schools and I don't think they'd change much; we have too many children of teenage drug users. However, there are some things that money could do to improve the poorest schools, at least here. And every little bit helps.

[Tweet]

Yeah, I don't think AA is really addressing the problems like better schooling. I think that is part of it,but like you said Judy, so is the value that parents/guardians place on it. I am not sure what the solution to THOSE problems is.

[SingingMom]

I'm not sure that solutions can always come from outside. Social justice issues are always uncomfortable, and to some degree, I think people have to go after social justice themselves. You can't give it to people- you have to take it for yourself.

[JustMoi]

I think that Affirmative Action should be abolished at this point.

[JudyJudyJudy]

Yup, it's true, Judy. Parents are the key indicators of academic success. And what's more, I think the whole community has to demand good schooling and then support it.

You could throw money at our local schools and I don't think they'd change much; we have too many children of teenage drug users. However, there are some things that money could do to improve the poorest schools, at least here. And every little bit helps.
I had many students last year whose mothers drank, did drugs, or both while pregnant, so they already had that strike against them. Then they were in bad environments, so that was already strike two.

As for the money, have you ever checked to see how much money is going into those schools? When I was looking to go back to work in fall 2007, I researched that a bit and was shocked at how much was going into some of the poor schools.

[JudyJudyJudy]

Yeah, I don't think AA is really addressing the problems like better schooling. I think that is part of it,but like you said Judy, so is the value that parents/guardians place on it. I am not sure what the solution to THOSE problems is.
Nor am I, yet a good education is one of the biggest factors in determining success. Another factor is knowing how to even hope or dream for better than status quo.

[Justicedog]

I had many students last year whose mothers drank, did drugs, or both while pregnant, so they already had that strike against them. Then they were in bad environments, so that was already strike two.

As for the money, have you ever checked to see how much money is going into those schools? When I was looking to go back to work in fall 2007, I researched that a bit and was shocked at how much was going into some of the poor schools.


Shocked in what way? More money or less money going in than you thought?

[JudyJudyJudy]

More money, JD.

[QuiltyConscience]

I have always been a little annoyed by the words "reverse discrimination". "Discrimination" is sufficient.

[JudyJudyJudy]

I have always been a little annoyed by the words "reverse discrimination". "Discrimination" is sufficient.
ITA.

[Tweet]

I have always been a little annoyed by the words "reverse discrimination". "Discrimination" is sufficient.


Yeah, it annoys me greatly.