Very good point. Argument has been made numerous times but I would like to second what this person is saying. Socioeconomic status should be the only "box" you have to check. Obviously through essays, and your ps they are learning what makes you unique, different and therefore attractive. However, what AA in essence does is only carry on a tradition of racism here in the states. Allow me to explain.
1. Why is it fair that the white, asian, or one of the numerous hispanic heritagesthat gets no preferential treatment, kid who grew up in Harlem next door to the black kid, had two crackhead parents, and put himself through school, is NOT on a level playing field with that black kid.
how is that in any way fair.
2. When you give anyone more rights, advnatages, privelages etc based on race you are in essence being racist and promoting racism. Let's look at this thread for example. There are numerous, "racists" who are "mad' because they believe they are getting shafted by AA. Look at hemmorhage, I do not know this person, nor do I agree with their statement that "blacks are lazy" however that hatred, or racism is being sparked by these unfair programs are they not. Why is there racism of minorities towards whites? Because minorities were sick of hundreds of years of oppression and getting the shaft, that has then almost implanted racism in their hearts. James Earl Jones (actor/darth vader and field of dreams for those who don;t know) talked about how he was raised to be racist because of the racist policies present in the world. The process for eliminating racism and promoting equality is to get rid of any and all programs, jobs, ideas that use race as a basis of classification.
3. This is the one I will get a hard time for but there is a double standard present in today's world. It seems to be "ok" for African Americans to do and say some things because there life is just plain harder than others. I had a black friend of mine argue with me for 2 hours that although he is middle class, with two married parents, and a private school education, his life would always be harder than a white persons. You think this isn't true. Just look at our president. We let him admit he had smoked weed, did drugs, and have what should be viewed as a failure of a presidency slide because there is this feeling he had a tough time being black. Everyone says he is a man of the people, "middle-class", poor like us. Wait a second, this is a "millionaire" who attended ivy league school, and went to a church for 20 years where the pastor is very actively and aggressively anti-America and anti-white.
In conclusion from my rant, I have been very lucky and blessed to have two parents who help me, supportive friends and family, and a good education. Do I believe the kid who worked his way out of the slums, and worked through college should perhaps get the edge over me, yeah i can handle that. But should my neighbor with all the same advantages as me who happens to be black or native american get the bump...hell no.