Discussion

Question 1

Cornell West writes that affirmative action policies were political responses to the pervasive refusal of most white Americans to judge black Americans by the quality of their skill, not the color of their skin. He also points out that there is no evidence to suggest that white Americans will make choices on merit rather than on race. How do you react to West's thoughts, and do you think affirmative action policies should be kept in place?

Question 2

After reading Elaine Robinson's essay about how massively structured racism is in our culture, do you think we live in a society of white privilege or white supremacy? Explain your answer, and show how Robinson's article has influenced your thinking.