Reply #85: Good luck with that

[beaconess]

Maybe if all of the white women who have either not lifted a finger in support of affirmative action for racial diversity or actively fought against it had a change of heart about the issue, you might prevail. But it's not likely.

One real frustration in this issue has been the number of white women who have done nothing to help protect affirmative action when it comes to racial disparities or have completely gone out of their way to get rid of it - yet many of them will be the first ones to complain about their own lack of representation in positions of power. (I'm not saying you are one of them - just making a point). The hypocrisy and utter lack of understanding that we're all in this boat together is really a shame.

For example, last year when Ward Connerly brought his battle to eliminate Affirmative Action to Michigan, African Americans fought like hell to stop the ballot measure from passing. While some women and women's groups supported us, most just sat it out, as if it just wasn't their concern. And when the vote came down, it passed by a narrow margin. While the anti-affirmative action measure was overwhelmingly supported by white men, a majority of white women voted for it, as well, providing the margin of victory. (Wow - won't THEY be surprised when they find out that the measure they voted for doesn't just apply to black folk, but limits THEIR opportunities, as well!) And, of course, let's not forget that the poster child for this entire effort was Jennifer Gratz, the white woman who launched an anti-Affirmative Action crusade when she didn't get into the University of Michigan and decided it must be because one of the handful of black students who were admitted took her seat (apparently none of the white students who ALSO got in ahead of her was undeserving of admission, just the black students).

So, while I agree with you that women need to have much more representation than we do, it would be nice if more white women - who have benefitted more from Affirmative Action than any other group - would support racial diversity, as well.