Obama and Affirmative Action

Will Obama's success hurt affirmative action?

I don't agree that Obama's success is a refutation of affirmative action, if only because he has a very unique background. I agree that, while there are racial prejudices remaining in this country, those prejudices generally do not prevent an African American from reaching any goals he may set. However, the long history of discrimination continues to negatively impact African-Americans. The wealth, values, habits, skills, knowledge, and lucrative connections passed from one generation to the next for centuries among middle-class and upper-class whites are only now being developed in the African-American community. That is one of the reasons why Obama's commitment to equality in early childhood education is so important.

I am hoping that Obama will take a strong position during the campaign that affirmative action should remain, but should be shifted to emphasize socioeconomic background rather than race. African-Americans would still benefit greatly from a financial need based affirmative action, but it would have the benefit of seeming fairer to whites, not benefitting African-Americans from families that have already "made it" (Obama points out that colleges should see his children as privileged), and recognizing the reality that class is now a stronger factor in success than race.