| Claims of reverse discrimination have been around | | | | smart enough to know that some of the best |
| for a while; however, recent events have brought | | | | players were not white. |
| it back into the forefront. With the Supreme | | | | Today, there are many Jackie Robinsons so to |
| Court’s decision regarding the New Haven, CT | | | | speak, who deserve a chance to demonstrate |
| white firefighters reverse discrimination case, the | | | | their exceptional skills and talents. Affirmative |
| election of President Obama and the nomination | | | | action is not a perfect solution, but does provide |
| of Sonia Sotomayo, the first Latina to be | | | | the best opportunity for people of all backgrounds |
| nominated to the U.S. Supreme Court, some are | | | | to be given the chance to compete. |
| claiming white men are being discriminated against | | | | At times affirmative action policy is not |
| despite the fact that seven of the nine justices | | | | implemented to its true intent. There are white |
| are white men. I recall seeing a photo of then | | | | people who are passed over for positions they |
| Presidential candidate John Edwards on the cover | | | | deserved. They have every right to be upset at |
| of Esquire magazine, with the caption, “Can a | | | | the injustice. |
| White man still be President?” There have | | | | Yet for every one of those instances where a |
| been 44 Presidents, 43 of them have been white | | | | white person falls prey to discrimination, there are |
| men. I think it’s a sure bet that we will see at | | | | ten times the numbers of People of Color who |
| least one white man as President again. Instead of | | | | experience such discrimination. |
| asking such a silly question, we should be asking | | | | This is how I make sense of claims of reverse |
| ourselves why has there only been one non-white | | | | discrimination. For simplicity, the black team |
| President and no women? | | | | represents all People of Color. |
| I recall reading a quote by Barry Switzer, | | | | America’s Favorite Pastime |
| “Some people are born on third base and go | | | | White vs. Black |
| through life thinking they’ve hit a triple”. | | | | The white team is allowed to field three times the |
| That profound statement truly sums up the | | | | numbers of players than the black team. |
| essence of racial privilege and what it is to be | | | | Instead of three outs, the white team gets six |
| white in the United States. It demonstrates that | | | | outs. |
| some people are given a head start while others | | | | The umpires are employed by the white team |
| have to work much harder to get to the same | | | | and use to be members of the white team. |
| place. There is no denying every President had to | | | | All the games are played at the white |
| work hard to earn the highest office in the land. | | | | team’s home stadium where they are |
| However, President Obama had additional | | | | cheered and supported while the black team is |
| challenges to overcome due to his color. | | | | booed and taunted. |
| To continue the baseball analogy, affirmative | | | | The white team has all of the latest and |
| action is not about taking white players off the | | | | greatest equipment while the black team has to |
| field. What it means is that they are no longer | | | | settle for the white teams discards. |
| given the advantage of starting on third base but | | | | The white team grew up playing baseball in |
| must take their turn in the batter’s box along | | | | organized leagues and attending private baseball |
| with everyone else. It’s about creating a level | | | | camps. |
| playing field where everyone must earn their way | | | | All of the previous 43 commissioners of baseball |
| on base and where everyone has a chance to | | | | have been from the white team. Now the first |
| step up to the plate. | | | | black commissioner is attempting to appoint a |
| There was a time in our history in which | | | | black umpire. Yet the white team is claiming it is |
| African-Americans were prohibited from | | | | unfair. |
| competing in Major League Baseball and were | | | | Discrimination is discrimination not matter which |
| relegated to the separate but unequal Negro | | | | direction it is pointed. However, it would appear |
| League. In 1947, Brooklyn Dodgers general | | | | that the only time many whites condemn such |
| manager Branch Rickey, motivated both by the | | | | behavior is when the bus is backing up on them. |
| ideal of racial equality and the desire to win | | | | Racism in America still results in a disproportionate |
| ballgames, added a black player to his team. The | | | | number of white people getting on base because |
| player was the legendary Jackie Robinson. In doing | | | | they were walked while many people of color |
| so, the pair ended the baseball color line of the | | | | were hit by a pitch. The end result is the same, |
| sixty-year era of segregation. Branch Rickey | | | | but one is much more painful. |
| wanted the most talented ball players and was | | | | |