Week
of
10/3/97:		 Should the Black community abandon the fight to maintain affirmative action policies in U.S. schools and just focus on modernizing and sending our children to Black colleges and professional schools?



Submit Date: 3 FEB 1999
Name: Peterson
Email: "MAJPeterson@hotmail.com
Response: Affimative Action is an important factor to help keep the playing ground level. Regardless of how te generation X blacks may feel or been brain washed, Affirmative Action will be the reason there are future Judges, Lawyers, military generals etc. It must not die!


Name: Monica McWhite
Email: MonieM@webtv.net
Response: I think that it is time to let affirmative action go. By no means do feel that it is wrong.I feel that we have been fighting for a law that has never totally been executed. White America has said," pass all the laws you want we still are not giving you anything". Obviously, focusing all our attention on such an issue is a waste of time. Doesn't it make more sense to devote our energy, time, and money to creating new businesses that aren't racist. Wouldn't competition and control over our dollar enable us to employ our people. I hope that the elimination will end such blindness and push Africans in America toward self-reliance. Our attention needs to be concentrated elsewhere. A-A has allowed a lot of Africans in America to become complacent and forgetful of our ancestors struggles. They didn't die only so we could spend the majority of our time trying to attend Harvard and Yale, and work for white majority owned businesses. Do we still need to have rules that guarentee that we will be "let in". A-A in the past has given us the resources to sustain and progress ourselves, but the preoccupation with being "accepted" and "let in" and "white-like" has made A-A a crutch. For many that seems to be our only goal as if white institutions and businesses are the best and only means of receiving an education and finding a good job. We would rather fight to the death, to borrow money from white institutions that over and over again have told us that they do not want our business, than to pull together our accountants and other busines personnel and create our own banks. Many have forgotten, but the struggle was not about assimilation, it was about equality. Our ancestors knew that assimilation meant the giving up of our culture. The continued use of A-A has allowed many to confuse assimilation with equality. Maybe letting A-A go will bring the true struggle back into our lives. I definitely hate to think of going cold turkey, but we have become too content and steadfast on using A-A as a means of assimilation and not progression. We have allowed the initial sweetness of A-A to go sour in our attempt to be honorary white, indulging in that which is white while hating everything that is Afrikan. Look at our hair, names, dress, talk, even our goals once we attain corporate jobs. Many times than not, once A-A lets us in the door we forget to reach back because we feel that we "have made it" and that is all that matters. This is one of the main areas where assimilation rears its ugly head. We have allowed this to happen and to keep A-A for another 26 years will not be helpful. As a Graduate of FLORIDA AGRICULTURAL AND MECHANICAL UNIVERSITY, I feel that letting A-A go will bring shock to those who only chose to support white institutions and businesses. While matriculating, I saw first hand the lack of funding and neglect from the state of Florida compared to Florida State which is less than two min. away. But I clearly understand that the unique (African cnetered) education came at a price. FAMU stands on its own merit. We have proven that we can sustain and progress ourselves and adequately compete with other institutions, despite our lack of resources. This proves that we are a self- reliant people. I wish FAMU and other HBCU's could get to a point where they no longer need state monies,but unfortuately Afrikan Americans chose to fight and devote their money to other causes such as A-A. No one wanted their grandmother or father to die for freedom but without that pain and suffering we wouldn't be here today. The ending of A-A can be a great stepping stone for our continued progress. Yes, in fact, I am suggesting that we need to lose African membership in more white universities. But as they leave such institutions we need to direct, support and push them to HBCU's. Affirmative Action in its present day form, only gives whites the power they need to further refer to us as uneducable and hopeless. They are telling us they no longer want to ensure that our children are given an adequate elemantary education, and that they don't care about diversity in the workplace, so why are we so determined to make them treat us with respect and dignity. We have tried A-A for years and now it is time for it to go. Just the mere argument over A-A lets us know that there will never be a day when it will no longer be needed. Yes we do have a right to Harvard and Yale, but wouldn't it be better for our African politicians, teachers, doctors, lawyers, mothers, and fathers etc. to put all of their energy into bulding stronger HBCU's, businesses, cultural centers etc..so we can ensure that workplace diverity occurs, that our brown brothers and sisters are not alientated and mistreated. They have told us they are not willing to do it so why make them. We have current resources to do it ourselves. Lets totally focus on building up and financially supporting our own colleges, businesses, and families. Affirmative Action has diverted our attention from the true goals, lets' refocus. Those who left the colleges in California and Texas need to bring their wisdom,innovation, uniqueness and experiences to various HBCU's instead of spending their valuable time fighting for a handout that in the near future is going to turn into a loan with hgh interest. A-A has allowed us to forget that we are a Nation within A Nation, and not a Nation searching for assimilation.


Name: Eric LaManque
Email: navachron9@rocketmail.com
Response: Replace Affirmative Action with Individual Conscience. After all, two wrongs don't make a right, as the ol' saying goes. Affirmative Action ultimately results in discrimination against young, caucasian males - even if he is/has been the kindest, most compasionate individual in the world. Why should a poor white boy suffer the repercussions of historical sins for which he was not responsible? Not ALL, or even the majority of white males have an automatically, guaranteed easy time in the employment arena because of history. It's a struggle for almost everyone to acquire a decent livelihood. Let's keep the doors of opportunity open fall all races, sexes, ages, creeds and religions...


Name: Bonnie Ayers
Email:
Response: Excuse me, because congress disagrees with the proposal of affirmative action does not mean it denies the existence of racism. Minorities are often times given less opportunities to achieve success. However forcing companies, schools, and other employers to hire someone because of their race and not because of their abilities is an insult to minorities. It is the same as saying, "I know you can't do it on your own so the goverment will help." No thanks I can achieve because I earned it, not because it was given to me.


Name: Randall
Email: B1more1@AOL.com
Response: I challenge Gary Williams and all other respondents to research our (African in America) economic status prior to America's Willie Lynch integration decisions. I submit that you will find Africans in America owned more banks and other financial institutions, land, movie houses, restaurants, had better teachers, close knit communities, and a stronger skilled labor pool and many other positive situations. The above comment is intended to challenge respondents to research our-story before believing then expressing how we were enhanced by integregation. I submit that my research indicates that our integrated right to go into stores, restuarants and other peoples neighborhoods have in effect been one giant step backwards. The evidence is simply this question. Look and see what we would have, If we had maintained the above mentioned benefits that segregation afforded us. This discussion should be about funding a new African institute, and how much benefits we will receive.


Name: Itchibon
Email: Itchibon@webtv.net
Response: Will someone please tell white-people they are not the only ones in America. Stop trying to hog everything that's being to people. You better learn to share; because, life is for everybody. African-Americans (A-A), have paid more dues than you! We have fought the battle from the pits of hell, and we are not about to give up. so, move over 'cause we're coming thru. Why should we continue to back down from an enemy who seeks to combat our every effort in life? "White crybaby dissenters" have a problem with Affirmative Action. As a result, some local officials are sympathetic to those who disagree; therefore, Affirmative Action is being reversed in some places. Those are the cowards who think (A-A's) are stealing "their" places in America! They are the ones who think they are the "special ones." We, (A-A's) are trying to get our share. "Stop being spoiled brats, and move over."


Name: hart berry
Email: beryhart@sprynet.com
Response: Let's say we do support and modernize our black schools, where will we be then without affirmative action? Affrimative action and historically black schools are not mutually exclusive. For survival, we need black schools; for success, as it's measured in this nation, we need affirmative action. Actually, we need weekend schools and the space of our churches, mosques, and temples to educate our young children to our history and how to make their way as producers in this system. Name: The Main Man from B-land now just Aj in the O.A.K
Email: ajohnson@heald.edu
Response: I like what Roc said 'we should fall in love with the struggle.'


Name: Sunny
Email: ldc4614@utarlg.UTA.EDU
Response: No. I'm a freshman majoring in journalism at UTA and it's definitely not a Black school. The career I plan to acquire will require me to interact with all people. Not that I would ever forget my own, how could I? But, we need to focus on sending black children to any college or institution that will futher their education and give them the motivation and confidence it takes to do so. A lot of youth don't think that college would help in living in this world, and sometimes it doesn't. Therefore, affirmative action is very necessary. Until we get ourselves where we ought to be, at the top, we will need all the help that we can get. That includes our families, the entire community, & perhaps the goverment (with financial aid & scholarships).


Name: susan barnes
Email: Gulf sufer99
Response: There are some areas of the country that are not so fortuntue as those of you above. We do not have the pleasure of all black anything below the collegiate level. Because of desegregation (that's another topic) everything is intergrated to the hilt. Therefore, to experience ANY hint of the true black culture, my intelligent children, (38.5 averages and 26 ACT, 1140 SAT) BEGGED to attend a black university. Yes, they could have been accepted at any university with scholarships but they went to Florida A&M and one wants to go to MORGAN STATE UNIVERSITY so badly, that he says he'll do whatever it takes. YOU REALLY don't know how good you really have it to be in the center of BLACK culture; many of you who have responded appear to live in chocolate cities. Ours comes every week, (a week behind mind you) when we get our AFRO American Newspaper!


Name: harris
Email: Hfloyd@eeicom.com
Response: I have had an unusual experience. I went to an all black boarding academy for high school. It was just the place to learn and grow in a secure, loving, and culturally rich environment, My college education, however, was gained at a traditionally white private college. I was able to attend this college because of their diversity programs, and academic scholarships. I would have been financially unable to attend any college without this help. I would hope that we would fight for full rights. We must support, build and develop our traditionally black institutions until they are able to offer high quality programs in every field of study, and offer financial assistance to everyone one in our community who desires higher education. In order to do this, we must exploit the opportunities that are available to us in traditionally white institutions to stregthen our economic power, so that we will have financial resources to give to our own institutions. In other words, let's take a page from their book and use it to our own good. We should have access to exceptional education, where ever it can be gained.


Name: Nnamdi Nzingha
Email:
Response: No, I don't think we should abandon the fight to maintain affirmative action policies in colleges/universities in America. First, our ancestors didn't die for us to "just give up" when things get tuff! Secondly, these state schools are our schools also. We pay taxes to keep these schools operating. I also believe we should be doing all we can to improve our HBCU's and all schools in our Hoods. As a nation within a nation, we should pool our nickels and dimes NATIONWIDE and give these donations to our schools. If we only POOLED OUR $$$ on a large scale, we could resolve many of our problems. Even though racism will always put roadblocks, obstacles and impediments in our way.


Name: Gary Williams
Email: n5991592@buckscol.ac.uk
Response: Sounds reminiscent of segregation to me, and look how sucessful that was. Yes be proud of our heritage, yes teach it to our future generations so that they can appreciate the struggles that our black history has shown, but we have fought to become recognized and it would simply be thrown away if we were to isolate ourselves into black only schools. Once graduated, our children would more than likely only be desired by black employees, leading to higher unemployment in our communities due to the limited number of black business's. We show our our by competing alongside the rest of society and not by creating an individual one. Would Linford Christie be as recognised if he ran in a 'blacks only' race? I think not.


Name: Elfen D. Blackforest
Email:
Response: aa is very important it levels a very prejudicial paying field. If anyone truly believes that predjudice and discrimiantion are not there in the business world and in admissions to college and housing and almost in every area of empolyment then that person is not living in reality.


Schools Name: Randall
Email: B1more1@aol.com
Response: When America can open her pocketbook and hand-over full compensation for African slavery and Jim Crow atrocities in America, then the fight for affirmative action will be over. America paid Japanese for unjustly detaining them in concentration camps. When will America pay for holding Africans in concentrations camps known as plantations? When will America pay for atrocities such as the syphilis and interferion murders? When will America pay for the destruction of Rosewood, OKC and other African developments in America? When will America pay for the flood of crack cocaine and herion into African America? When will America pay for the intentional omission of African contributions to America's development in every period of American History? When will America pay for the grievous effects these omissions have on African Americans and Anglo Americans? When will America pay for the assult on the African American community and African men specifically? These assaults manifest in operations like KKK or intelpro? These operations produced the murder of Dr. King, Malik El Shabazz, Medgar Evers, Black Panthers, and grade school African children. If you don't know, I will tell you the answers to the above questions. There is only one answer. When African America begins to support itself on all levels then America will pay for America's African atrocities. African America must begin to support all levels of African schools in America. We must teach our children at every level, beginning at an early level. Thus by the time the children are ready to enter college they will choose by themselves to support their own. At this time and only at this time will it be time to end the fight for affirmative action. All the atrocities America heaped on the African in America have been designed to destroy African American unity. Beginning the day Africans were forced onto a boat to America and continuing today in the form of crack cocaine. America does not want Africans to unite. So, only uniting would end a need for affirmative action.


Name: Kaatib Asad
Email:
Response: I feel that now is the time for Afrikans here in America to begin to seriously examine the possibility of starting schools districts that strictly teach and adhere to Afrocentric ideologies. We can see what enrolling our children into white establishments has achieved. Absolutely nothing at all. We are at one of the greatest times in history for accessibility to all types of information. It is our duty as the older generation to impart this information to our children. We already have several outlines for these types of learning facilities. Even if of you are not a member of The Nation of Islam you can still look at the format that is used in Chicago as an outline for other schools that will help Afrikan children here in America. We need to stop depending on the enemy to teach our children. In the event that you do not wish to enroll your children into these types of insistutions, there is always the option of home education. Like they say, home made food is always better for you than fast food. In the event that the financial sucess stories in this country would pool their resources and supprt the masses that have contributed to thier success (Afrikan celebs, entertainment, business, sports, etc.) there would be no struggling Black colleges in America. It is not up to those who do not have our best interests in mind to give us the key to our freedom. Education is the key to unlock the shackles of mental slavery. It is up to the population of Afrikan peoples in this country to take care of our own. Peace.


Name: John Dolan
Email: johndolan@erols.com
Response: It is my opinion that A.A in any form is reverse discrimination. This is wrong. To make people who are not of darker skin pay for the wrongs of past people with lighter skin is wrong. It is the equivelent of me distrusting all black men because a black man robbed me last week. (that didn't happen, just an analogy. Thank you for your time, JOHN


Name: reginald b. johnson, jr.
Email: reggiebjr@hotmail.com
Response: no we shouold not scrap affirmative action. but at the same time we must and will lend our marvelous historic black institutions the undergirding they deserve. we should not yeild to the temptation of joining the belief that we are accepting hand outs. affirmative action is not a hand out, it's a tool to level the playing field. in conclusion, lets brace for the rocky ride ahead ,lets prepare ourselves now for the inevitable. we all know by now affirmative action is already being dismissed in certain areas. so lets stand up to the challenge and adjust like we've always have since our existence. however, remember the keys is involvemnet: we must stay involved in our homes, in politics, schools, and in the lives of our children. our children can accomplish anything if they believe it. so lets plant that seed of belief, then it wont matter what resistance or lack of assistance they endure, they will have a sense and belief that success does not come to you, you go to it......


Name: Nathan
Email: ncbarnett@hotmail.com
Response: Before desegration we supported modernizing our black schools. Then we called it "making it with what you have." Affirmative Action has murderd the sprit of: the Black College, Neighborhood black highschool, blackbusiness/enterprise, etc. True enough, it did make a big difference in the beginning. Eventually it started draining the things we called our own. Now, most of our best and brightest go to Harvard instead of Howard; Country Day Highschool instead of Booker T. Washington...........We should push away from THEIR CRUTCH and attempt to walk on our own. We will get support from ourselves. Because we know theirs UNITY in sufferage.


Name: Nicole Watford
Email:
Response: As a graduate student, I feel compelled to home-teach my son because I know he will never learn, love and appreciate the wealth and richness of our heritage in a white school. White teachers will never educate our children like they do their own. We have to place the future of our children in the hands of those who have struggled our struggles and have walked in our shoes. I want to riase my son to be so proud of his heritage that he will fully support all that African-Americans have provided for him: educational institutions, financial institutions, restaurants, etc., etc. I will forever encourage him to enhance our culture.


Name: simon
Email: simonzealot@hotmail.com
Response: We should have never stopped supporting black schools. Just because somebody invites you over to spend the night does not mean you are suppose to stop paying the bills at home. We need to start respecting as well as supporting Black schools, and stop treating black schools as if they are inferior. People treat affirmitive action as if it was the end, when in truth it was just one means to get us to an end. We lost focus, so affirmative action became our god, our purpose, our reason to go to school. I believe a person should use whatever tools that are made available in order to build a house. However when the tool becomes more important then the house then the house never is built. So now we have fatherless (and sometimes motherless) children all in the name of affirmative action. Should we stop fighting afirmative action? Yes we should get rid of it, because we don't know how to use it, and the best we can do is misuse and abuse it. Maybe what we should do is raise the entrance level for HBCU's. That will raise the level of accountability. If you do the right thing, the right way, expecting the right results, to benefit your community, and glorify God. You don't have to wait until you let them in, because you are already there. Can you feel me?


Name: donaldnash
Email: d.c.p.nash@msn.com
Response: peace and blessings I THINK WE NEED TO DO FOR SELF. A PEOPLE THAT ARE ALWAYS BEGGING WILL NEVER GET RESPECT. PEOPLE THAT WILL NOT TREAT YOU RIGHT WILL NOT TEACH YOU RIGHT. WE NEED TO TEACH OUR CHILDREN OUR PROUD HISTORY AND HERITAGE LIKE THE JEWISH PEOPLE DO AND ONLY THEN WILL WE GET THE RESPECT WE TRULY DESERVE. PEACE.


Name: Frances Murphy
Email: FrankieLou@aol.com
Response: We are no different from anyone else. We deserve-- and have earned by sweat and tears-- the whole pie---affirmative action and building up of our own schools and colleges. The day that the Catholic school or the Jewish school disappears from the face of the earth will be the signal to all that we don't need both affirmation action and our schools which teach our own. We must fight for what we have earned at the same time hold on to our own heritage.


Name: orestes steed
Email: steed001@hotmail.com
Response: support black schools!! we have been there and done that!! no academic magic happened by seating black kids next to white kids. teachers stopped caring about black kids after intergration. i lived through it and grew up watching the controversy on tv. i remember all black schools in our community and walking to school with my friends. that whole experience was good for me. that was the driving force behind attending a historically african-american university. LETS MOVE ON!!!!!


Name: Diondrae Collier
Email: dcollier@howard.edu
Response: I believe that Black colleges need black students, there are too many black students wanting to be accepted into white schools. Affirmative Action is what brought us from out of racial discrimination. But we also must support the very foundation which is educating us, that is Black schools. We must take part in Affirmative Action and also become educated through struggles of Black schools. I attend a Black school and I don't want to be sucked up by the fortune 500 companies. I want to be educated with people that possess the highest degrees in education.


Name: KCopeland
Email: gcopeland@wue.cybersurf.de
Response: I'm in favor of keeping affirmative action AND pushing for more support financially toward modernizing our public schools and universities. The problem is how do we get the message across to those who are in a position to do something?


Name: Rita
Email: Rita FP@aol.com
Response: This is a false dichotomy. We should not abandon ANY aspect of the struggle to have what is ours. We must do both. Clearly black schools must be made the best schools around, but we must also provide our children and our communities with a range of options, including intergrated environments. Besides, this is all symbiotic. As black students have gone into white schools, the black colleges have become better (yes, some have fallen by the wayside, but so have many other schools). We should not be so short-sighted. The goal is opportunity everywhere! is the goal.


Name: ROOTZ
Email: mequill@rcs.rang.k12.va.us
Response: I beleive that the Black Communities should focus on the resources WE have. Our children are loseing valuable information in our present sistuation. We must support and modernize OUR Black Schools.


ANY aspect of the struggle to have what is ours. We must do both. Clearly black schools must be made the best schools around, but we must also provide our children and our communities with a range of options, including intergrated environments. Besides, this is all symbiotic. As black students have gone into white schools, the black colleges have become better (yes, some have fallen by the wayside, but so have many other schools). We should not be so short-sighted. The goal is opportunity everywhere! is the goal.


Name: Terry Ford
Email: tfordcb@bellatlantic.com
Response: Affirmative Action in our schools, we don't need it. It's just another bait and switch trick that's being played on us. Why, just look at how wonderful it's been for our school age children so far; the dropout rate amongst our high schoolers is deplorable, a substantial number of our students complete high school functionally illiterate, etc., etc. Is this what we want to see continue?? Well, it will if we belieive, by any stretch of our imaginations, that Affirmative Action is going to free us from this racist bondage in America, land of the free, home of the brave, with Liberty and Justice for some. (We are not included-Ask Rodney, OJ, Emmett Till). So let's not abandon the fight, why don't we start a new fight, one that we can win overwhelmingly. Let's educate our own children. We must do this for our survival, remember, OUR CHILDREN ARE OUR FUTURE!!! And without them being educated into the Global Economy, our future looks mighty dim. Thanks to all who read this, feel free to E-Mail me for more in-depth discussions. I'd also like to hear from any Vietnam vets. Thanks Again


Name: Tarris
Email: tharris@plcmc.lib.nc.us
Response: With the new unitary laws taking place all over the country. Replacing old no-discrimination laws with laws that maintain that all schools must be equal in quality of teachers, materials and resources we will find that affirmative action while still necessary in some situations, would become absolete in education. As black colleges have proven, an environment that provides a safe habitat for learning (as opposed to squeezing in an education in-between struggles for race equality on campus) increases the students' self-confidence, self-esteem, and self-worth which ultimately leads to more success.


Name: Mr Allen Jones
Email:
Response: We should definitly be prepared to assume responsibility for our success in this country. We should modernize our schools but lets not fall for that seperate but equal scam. If its going to be done lets make it the best. Lets get the best teachers. Pay them well. Getting taught in a Black environment is about more than book learning. Its about survival in this country.


Name: Solomon Landers
Email: Numberup@worldnet.att.net
Response: The fight may be unwinable in the current legal and political climate. What is the objective, and can the objective be obtained by other means, by a more sophisticated struggle? If the objective is first-class education for Black students, are affirmative action policies the only way to secure this? One could even question the value of continuing affirmative action policies, if they have not produced academic excellence. Why is there lower Black college enrollment in Texas and California? Have some students relied on affirmative action policies as a crutch, rather than reaching for excellence? Did they squander their educational opportunities, winding up unqualified for college admission? I don't think any fight for equality should be abandoned, but perhaps it IS time to re-evaluate our tactics, and change our strategies where necessary. What is wrong with a many-faceted offensive? New ideas, new solutions? After all, Blacks did achieve outstanding levels of scholarship even BEFORE affirmative action. Why should the end or dilution of affirmative action portend the end of Black progress?


Name: TRINA ST.CLAIR
Email: luckytee@hotmail.com
Response: I think that we need to develop our own school system. It should consist of elementary secondary and post-secondary schools. We should have institutes, trade schools and professional development schools. They all must be built, supported and run by African-American people. We need to develop our own curriculum and textbooks. First, we need to have a vision and definition of what education is and what we want it to do for us. Our school system should be autonomous. It would be accountable to students and their parents only. If we do this we will free ourselves of a system of miseducation that sets us up for failure. It is better to create your own mess than to be messed up by someone else. We have tried the American miseducation system. It is a prison and it does not work. Let us begin to discard it.


Name: corino jones
Email: jasbuie@uclink4.berkeley.edu
Response: No, they should fight to keep affirmative action programs in schools for now. They should not separate into different schools. We push to find out who we are as a people by alienating ourself from other races. We come out of our all black schools proud & educated in our rich black history. But white America didn't need those credits to get their degrees so they could care less. Kids at young ages play together not caring about the color of their playmate's skin. As they grow up they are taught through the examples they see around them. They see because they are white, you get special treatment. They see that if you are black, you get less than special treatment. Martin Luther King wanted a color-less world. If people are to stay apart they will never come together. Afroam, you asked for a challenge. Well, I challenge you and others to use your powers to teach young minds to work to change the laws of the land. The strength of "white power" is the laws its holds over us. They say affirmative action discriminates. They made it illegal through law. They have been discriminating for years but it was not against "their" law. Black history can be taught in all schools, to all races, if it is against the law for it not to be. If you break the laws of God, you will be punished. If you then break the laws of man, that all colors made, then you will also be punished.


Name: Drew Scott
Email: quadrivium@hotmail.com
Response: A resounding yes and Amen a Right On and a just Good Common Sense. Action speaks louder than words and boy has he acted Up!


Name: Tommie Muhammad
Email: TommieMuhammad@Rocketmail.com
Response: In my opion, if We want to be succesful in this day in time, in what ever we are doing, we must make sure that we discontinue our memebership to the "I want to be exploited club", by becoming absolutely independent of our OPEN ENEMIES!!!! I doesn't make any sense to ask (but we really beg) our enemies to feed us, cloth us, shelter us and (trick us into helping him to maintain his mastery over us) teach us. How does GOD look begging the devil to hire him or teach him, when he has the power and infinite knowledge to not only provide and DO FOR HIMSELF, but to put the devil completely out of business. Also uproot his ability to trick and deceive anyone else. Now to answer the question directly; Without question!!!, we should support and modernize our own shcools. With todays technology, we can make our own schools just as good, if not better than the finest institutions that this world has to offer! We should be doing this regardless to what the U.S goverment does or legislates white owned businesses and employers to do. However we have benefited from affirmative action in the past. Perhaps we should continue to support it, but not as opposed to supporting our own. Any extra crumbs they give us should just be for decoration, ya know garnish on the side.... Always remember, that it was this country that was and is formost in causing the problems of racism and its effects. Even though say that this is the meltingpot and we are all on an equal playing field now, their actions demonstrates the opposite. We should support Affirmative Action and Build OUR OWN shcools and businesses in the meantime because as always, you NEVER can trust someone with two faces. peace.