Many of the people opposed to affirmative action argue that they should not and cannot be expected to feel guilt for the actions of their ancestors. Whether person feels guilt or not is unimportant. More than feeling, people need to realize the effect of past evils upon minorities within this country. As a black person, I can tell you firsthand that that I hold scars from injustices and the misdeeds suffered by my family and my people the past. The so called controversial lyrics of rappers, such as NAS, KRS1 and many others, lead me to believe that wounds from the past not only plague me but the entire black race as well.
Another specious argument against affirmative action states that certain policies, which provide opportunities for minorities and women, cause a condition of "reverse racism" against white males. Not only is this argument unfounded but it is insulting. Historically, no other group has benefited more from the subjugation of others within this country than white males. Any discrimination suffered by white males pales in comparison to pain and degradation suffered by minorities in this country.
My intent was not to bash white males, but to shed light upon a public debate in which the voices of minorities are far too often absent. In this imperfect world that we live in, we can’t change the past, but we can learn from it and use it to insure our future. Instead of criticizing it, affirmative action should be heralded as an attempt to secure justice and equality for the future. For the opponents of affirmative action, I submit that it is not about guilt or "reverse racism" but it is an exercise in fairness, understanding and remembrance. We were not born in a perfect world but that does not mean that we cannot try to make it one.