Disclaimer: I have tried to phrase this as professionally as possible so as not to offend anyone. Please keep your responses professional in return.
What exactly is the point of this summer program? I honestly do not understand why "underrepresented minorities" should get a leg up over "non-underrepresented minorities" on learning about the university during a no-cost meet and greet with faculty before applying. It's baffling. I would love to meet the faculty of my future optometry school before I apply, just to get my name out to them.
I can only guess that this is a poor attempt at Equal Opportunity. What exactly is Equal Opportunity? Even Wikipedia doesn't have a clear definition as to what Equal Opportunity is. Wiki does say that it is "An approach intended to provide a certain social environment in which people are not excluded from the activities of society, such as education, employment, or health care, on the basis of immutable traits." Well, my whiteness is a pretty immutable trait, but I don't qualify for the no-cost ICO summer tour.
So what exactly qualifies as an "underrepresented minority?"
My curiosity drove me to contact ICO with the question "what exaclty is a minority?" I was replied with a seemingly politically correct email stating the following:
"ICO defines "minority" by ethnic background including - American Indian/Eskimo, Asian-American, Hispanic, African-American and multi-racial. We further define under represented minority as American Indian/Eskimo, Hispanic and African-American."
I say "seemingly" politically correct becuse although they are attempting an Equal opportunity action, they are excluding people based on race, which is the opposite of what Equal Opportunity is supposed to do in the first place. If you are not American Indian/Eskimo, Hispanic or African-American, you do not qualify as an "underrepresented minority" in the eyes of ICO.
Why was I not qualified to go meet ICO staff at no cost just because I am white? I am not racist. I am the opposite of racist. I believe every race deserves the same chance at something. So if that was the case, this summer program would be available at no cost to all people, regardless of race, minority or not.
People, we live in america now. Every single race of people in the world resides in this country and we are truly a melting pot of races. There is no minority or majority, only American. We are all American, and that's all that should count.
Alright, this is my first time posting because I just found this site today, however I'd like to present my own opinion. This is not meant to offend anyone and if I do, I apologize upfront.
The reason why there are programs like ICO's focus on your future program is because of privilege, institutionalized racism, and reparations that need to be met. White people in our society have "white privilege". Regardless if you want it or not, if you are aware or unaware, if you are white you have it. And in all forms of social, political, and economic contexts, white people are advantaged. I'm white and I am well aware but most don't even acknowledge their privilege because it makes them uncomfortable.
Yes, we all are American but that's not all that counts. The civil rights movement was less than 50 years ago and we're still fighting for civil rights for other Americans. Programs like ICO's try to help Americans who have had a history of neglect and disadvantage. A lot of minorities have parents that have migrated over and are first generation Americans. This next scenario is a generalization I know but I have worked with hundreds of youth that fit this. They have had to work multiple jobs to help their family get by, live in neighborhoods where the public education system is atrocious and not conducive to science and math backgrounds, have had to learn english, and aren't afforded a lot of the liberties that most middle class kids grow up with. If your dream was to go to college and someday become an optometrist, but you had to commute to a school that didn't give you a good basis for excelling in science classes and had to work right after school till evening, and then take care of your grandparents or other family members when you got home, hungry and tired and then have to study on top of all that. Is that equal?
Also, just because you are white doesn't mean that the program automatically rejects you. The person that saw white kids in the picture probably saw them because they are either first generation college students or they themselves or their parents or both collectively do not make an income enough to support them in their collegiate endeavors.
Just because your skin is white doesn't mean you have white privilege. Just because your skin is white doesn't mean you are "white". If you identify with a particular race, then you are part of it regardless of your skin color because like you said, its immutable.
I know we have an african-american president but racism still exists. And even if you identify as not racist or haven't seen it, it doesn't mean it isn't happening right now. It is still rampant in our society today.
I believe that programs like this are not only neccessary but vital for equality!
