I write this in response to (a column) appearing in the Feb. 19 issue of The Spectrum called "Affirmative Action Has Outstayed Its Welcome" by Jamie Lynn Perna.
I think Ms. Perna has over-simplified and over-generalized the debate regarding affirmative action. Ignoring facts regarding race issues in the United States does not make an effective opinion essay.
What she fails to mention is that inner-city schools, which are grossly under-funded, under-staffed and over-populated, are also predominantly attended by minorities - namely, blacks and Hispanics. The fact that an equal number of white and black kids started off nursery school at the same time has absolutely nothing to do with quality of education - the reason affirmative action is needed to give equal footing in higher education.
I urge Ms. Perna to pick up any local publication to see that Buffalo schools, already in dire straits, are now laying off even more teachers due to the recent cuts proposed by (Gov. George E.) Pataki. While we continue to whine about our tuition going up (and rightly so) these kids in city schools will not attain the quality education they deserve. This is the reason equal footing at the higher education level is needed.
I went to grade school in a Buffalo suburb, graduating in 1996 in a class of about 400. There were approximately five black students in my class. Like it or not, race issues in this country are a direct result from slavery. It has resulted in a racial divide between the city and the suburbs, disproportionate salaries, declining neighborhoods (the flee to the 'burbs) ... I could go on. It is not possible to write off the issue as "well, it happened a long time ago, and we're sorry." This is an ongoing issue that will not be corrected in the course of 100 years, and especially not by eliminating Affirmative Action.
As for the dating game played by The Spectrum, you didn't have any gays or lesbians either. But don't get me started there ...
Photo: Meredith Forrest Kulwicki
