> -----Original Message-----
> From: owner-lbo-talk at lists.panix.com
> [mailto:owner-lbo-talk at lists.panix.com]On Behalf Of Louis Proyect
> Sent: Thursday, May 28, 1998 3:33 PM
> To: lbo-talk at lists.panix.com
> Subject: Re: Invention of the white race
>
>
> C. Peterson:
> >If affirmative action programs are currently so
> >small and affect so few people (and most in the middle class are
> >completely unaware of this and think that there are massive numbers of
> >'undeserving' poor who are taking away their slots at the university), it
> >seems that energy would best be spent trying to support a policy that
> >would really equalize rich and poor and make up for the inherited effects
> >of past racism.
>
> Yes, this is the "color-blind class-based" affirmative action that some
> Marxish liberals like Michael Tomasky advocate. In actuality, affirmative
> action has had profound effects on the ability of Black and
> Chicanos to get
> into U. of Texas Law School. Recent attacks on affirmative action
> have left
> the school lily-white. This will translate into more racist death-penalty
> victims in that unfortunate state.
The book which goes into detail on this is called "The Remedy", I think, and is written by my friend Richard Kahlenberg. The book is pretty controversial and I'm not sure I buy into the whole thing, but he does offer a preference system based on redistributing advantage to persons on the basis of economic status. This doesn't solve the discrimination problem, but if it worked it would benefit minorities significantly.
The Texas situation is developing in an interesting way. There is a new rule that a given percentage of the top grads in EACH public high school is guaranteed admission to state colleges. (I think I have the details right, but don't shoot me if not.) Given the segregated character of public schools, this will guarantee quite a few spots to minorities.
MBS