It is interesting to read Stephen B. Presser’s arguments against affirmative action programs (“Clinton puts his thumb in the eye of the Constitution,” Op-Ed, Dec. 16).
He claims to align himself with the civil rights activists of the ’60s who were struggling for a “colorblind” society. To bolster his argument, he refers to Martin Luther King Jr’s famous speech: His dream of a time when people would be judged on the content of their character rather than the color of their skin. According to him, affirmative action programs run counter to this dream in that opportunities are based on skin color.
What Presser fails to acknowledge is that in the U.S., opportunities have always been, and continue to be, based on skin color and gender. How else can we account for white men holding most of the positions of power in government, education and in the nation’s top companies? (More than 95 percent of the CEOs are white men.)
To provide opportunities for others, affirmative action programs have been put in place. I realize that they are imperfect, but they represent a step toward the realization of Martin Luther King Jr.’s dream. Those who want to dismantle these programs, yet claim to want a “colorblind” society, must suggest other ways to achieve equal opportunities for everyone. The continuing racism and sexism that plague our country must come to an end.
