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P4 The Panther APRIL IQ, 1??j>
On The Coals: Affirmative Action Under Fire
By Diallo Marvel
Staff Writer
If you did not notice, we are in the
midst of a revolution — a conserva
tive Republican revolution.
Affirmative Action is a casualty of
war, along with liberal welfare poli
cies, government subsidized public
broadcasting and a myriad of other
things (see Contract with America).
How could this happen, you ask?
Maybe because only a mere 33
percent of all eligible voters actually
exercise their right to democracy. I
hear everyone screaming that
Republican Speaker of the House
Newt Gingrich is so bad, but the
action, and inaction of the public
asked for this era of conservatism.
The blame should be shared by the
moderate Democrats and conserva
tive lobbyists who have been instru
mental in the war on Affirmative
Action.
The Affirmative Action debate is
one that is multifaceted and shrouded
in emotion and misunderstanding on
both sides. During President Lyndon
B. Johnson’s term, he vied for policy
that attempted to equalize discrimina
tion. Today we see, albeit dispropor-
tional, black and Hispanic women
and men in positions formerly dom
inated by white males.
A recent Newsweek poll has 90
percent of Americans for the abol
ishment of Affirmative Action leg
islation. That number is indicative
of the controversy and polarization
of working class Americans. The
growing consensus is that govern
ment has had its days of directly
involving itself in the hiring poli
cies of the private sector. Newt
says, “less government,” and that
means Affirmative Action has got
to go.
It is unfortunate that the public
has been led into thinking that quo
tas, and the hiring of black and
Hispanic males and females, has
created an unqualified, unskilled
and non-deserving work force.
Then, the media airs programs,
showing disgruntled qualified white
males (the so called victims of
Affirmative Action) that lost a job
or promotion because of a quota.
The media has also helped to foster
animosity between what boils down
to whites and blacks.
Here is where the emotion
comes into play. It hurts because
there has been no conversation on a
replacement, nor has any serious
evaluation been
conducted as to
gage to the efficien
cy of Affirmative
Action directives. It
will make the
already difficult
task of suing for
discrimination even more difficult.
Republicans contend that people in
the position to hire do not need
their arms twisted by government.
All things being equal, things
would be right, but all things are
not equal.
The conservative Republican
tidal wave does not stop here. It is
no coincidence the leading men in
the onslaught against
Affirmative Action are (R-Senator)
Phil Gramm and (R-Senator) Bob
Dole. By the way, both are up for
the Republican nomination for presi
dent. It doesn’t take a genius to see
that with this type of momentum and
President Clinton lagging in the
polls, there may very well be a con
servative Republican sitting in the
oval office next year.
E
Clark Atlanta University
anther
Stacy Adams/Editor-In-Chief
Kimathi Lewis/Managing Editor
Kristie K. White/Editorial Editor
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LETTER TO THE EDITOR
This letter is in response to Kristie White's editorial, “No Vale La Pena!” in the March 27, Panther.
First of all, your article was well written and entertaining, and your opinion of Ticketmaster had some ele
ments of truth. However, there are a number of points in your article which simply are incorrect:
Number one: I do not think that anyone who only completed two days of a training class (note, you
never made it to the actual sales floor) can get an accurate representation of any business, much less
Ticketmaster. Whomever was giving you the “low down” on Ticketmaster, was just giving you their short
sided opinion of a business. I’m surprised you did not ask any of the AUC students who feel the
Ticketmaster “experience" has benefited them, their opinion, because they do exist. I am one of them.
Number two: A phone agent at Ticketmaster is not a telemarketing position. The definition of a telemar
keter is someone who calls outside a particular business to garner business. That was not the position you
failed to train for. Yes, I agree, $4.50 per hour is $4.50 per hour. There is no way to “sugar-coat” it, but I
seriously doubt that a Republican majority Congress is willing to share its wealth with the “masses” any
time soon.
Number three: $126.00 divided by 22 hours is $5.73 per hour. Check your math.
Lastly, Ticketmaster is a business. “White” corporate America, last time I looked, has no promissory
note with blacks or any other ethnic group to make things better. We have to do that ourselves. Some
sharecroppers, at the very least, had a written promise to, not only equal profits, but to one day own the
land they worked. I know for a fact because my grandfather was one. I, by no means, am defending corpo
rate America, but I am cognizant of the employment rate among blacks, educated or not, and of a reality
that exists today.
So, the next time you look in your purse and do not see any “Dollars,” ask yourself honestly if you are
doing everything possible to change that. Not only for yourself, but also for your community, because if
one of us is “broke,” we all are “broke.” Think about it.
Owezo M. Rowe/Quality Assurance Supervisor Ticketmaster