If the requirement for a scholarship was the same for each one out there the same people would be getting every one. Where would that leave the kids who had to work all during high school so that there lights wouldn’t get turned off? They couldn’t always focus on work so they grades may have suffered some. Is it fair to the student that had to drop out because they had a baby? Is it fair to the ones that no matter how hard they tried they couldn’t get above a 2.5? NO! So there are different types of scholarships out there so that these people can afford to go to collage to. Lets’ just say that in every situation I just listed all of those students are white heterosexual males. Now according to what you want, none of them would end up with a scholarship because there are so many more people with better grades that would receive them. But maybe one of them drinks milk, the way it is now there would be a scholarship out there just for that. Another scholarship could go to the student that worked as long as it was at least 15 hours a week. Also the one who is taking care of his child there is a scholarship out there for him. Now are you willing to take away these scholarships becaue you might not be able to get them. Or would you just look at them say oh well and move on.

There are thousands of scholarships out there, so why get mad at the few that are race specific. Just move on and fill out another application. Because if they take away scholarships for minorities than they have to take away scholarships for everything thats not acedemic. Where would that leave the United States if only a select few could afford to go to college? In a very terrrible state thats where, and thats a place that I don’t want this country to be in.

First, all of you who take the stance that the poor white kid would not even be competing for the scholarship really didn’t think before you typed. You make my case for me. THAT IS EXACTLY THE POINT, here is a school scholarship offered by the government that is up for competition by anyone EXCEPT the white, christian, heterosexual males. It is not that the scholarship will be given to someone based on race or gender or religion; It is the idea that one group of people based on these factors can’t even apply. So you are right, the white kid will not be competing; he was turned around at the door because he was WHITE.

Secondly, i do not beleive in discrimination of anyone, this includes whites and blacks and asians and whoever. Reverse discrimination does not fix anything, it only turns the discrimination around. This really frustrates me personally because i am a young, white heterosexual male who HAS BEEN DISCRIMINATED AGAINST. There has been alot of discrimination of minorities in the US in the PAST and i do not feel ANY of it was right, but why should i have suffer the cosequences? The civil rights movement was well on its way before my generation was even born.. Can’t we just get over it and level the playing field and stop ALL discrimination..

I’m not trying to change anyone’s mind, because i understand that is an almost impossible task, but to shed some light on issues from non-minority eyes. Feel free to dispute me, i’m used to it. I do have a degree in sociology so i have debated these and many other topics of problematic social behavoir. i feel strongly about these issues and look forward to seeing some comments.

But you ignore the fact that the white person isn’t even allowed to compete. Indeed my example is far-fetched (thus the “Let’s take a wild scenario” intro), but your answer neglects the issue that the white person in this scenario is not given a chance to prove himself.

How do you define a minority? Obviously, it can’t simply be a matter of numbers (there are more females in the US than males, but females are considered the minority… despite that they make up more of the student body in many universities). Is it an issue of “power”? Then how do you define that power?

“Your 22-year-old black business owner with his own Ferrarri is a nice thought, but far from the experience of many 22-year-old black men in this country.”

It’s far from the experience of most 22-year-olds regardless of race or sex.

What issues are there other than merit and need that should be part of the requirements for a general scholarship? Obviously class standing, expected career, etc. can be factors, but I don’t see how race or sex should be.

“Second, given the difference in their affluence and education levels, your hypothetical applicants probably wouldn’t be competing for the same scholarships, period. …Bachelor’s degree (from his private school)…”

I didn’t mean to imply that the private school was a college, rather, it was meant as his high school (as in his parents could afford to pay to put him through a private high school whereas the other hypothetical example had to work while in a free public school just to get by). Regardless, “probably wouldn’t be competing” doesn’t seem like a valid reason to justify racial discrimination. One of the definitions for racism is “Discrimination or prejudice based on race” (American Heritage Dictionary) and I don’t think that fighting past/present racism with more racism is the answer.

“And if you think that black people aren’t disadvantaged in this country, think again.”

I don’t think that, but I think it’s fair to say that there are situations in which any particular race or sex is at an advantage or disadvantage. No one race or sex has the monopoly on hardship. I don’t believe a teeter totter favoring one group in one situation and the opposite in another is the answer to stability or balance. We should work to level the playing field for everyone.

Quite frankly, I have no problem with scholarships restricted to minority students. Your hypothetical situation of the broke-but-perfect white applicant and the wealthy-but-lazy black applicant is flawed for several reasons. First, when competing for a minority scholarship, the wealthy-but-lazy applicant is not even competing against your white applicant. He’s competing against all the poor, broke, hardworking straight-A minority students out there–and therefore, he’s almost surely NOT going to get the scholarship.

Like all scholarships, those targeted at minorities are based on need and merit–their eligibility criteria is simply more narrow than some other types of scholarships. There are literally thousands of scholarships out there, and every single one of them has eligibility criteria, such as your major, your class standing, your age, your gender, your GPA, your intended profession, if you’re in graduate school or not, if you’re in a Greek organization or not, if your parents were alumni of the school, or what have you. Eligibility rules that target minority students are giving these students–both historically and currently under-represented in institutions of higher education, as well as being less affluent–a chance to go to college, without competing against the thousands of students coming from more affluent and less disadvantaged communities. And if you think that black people aren’t disadvantaged in this country, think again. Your 22-year-old black business owner with his own Ferrarri is a nice thought, but far from the experience of many 22-year-old black men in this country.

Second, given the difference in their affluence and education levels, your hypothetical applicants probably wouldn’t be competing for the same scholarships, period. An 18-year-old, first of his family to go to college, with a high GPA and no family assistance is not going to be applying for the same scholarships as a 22-year-old who already has a Bachelor’s degree (from his private school) and would be looking for graduate admission.

Did you get my response?

best,
dan brewer

I read what you wrote. I can relate to you 100%. I have experienced everything you said throughout my education. I started a small non-profit organizaton for this very purpose. Are goal for 2008 is $50,000 in scholarships. This year we have been featured by over 10 different newspapers, 3 radio stations and 2 news stations. We have receievd national and local coverage with what we are doing. If you are interested in jumping on board and getting involved with letting others know shoot me an email I left above or simply if you just want to promote my site on your webpage- you can do that too. I would love to hear what you want to do to make a change.

Best,
dan brewer

“Student’s giving other students Scholarships- $1 at a time”

http://www.onedollarscholar.com

I feel I have been discriminated against. I am a white male who is friends with blacks, Latinos, and anyone of any race. I am a smart kid and I know that discrimination is mainly affiliated with anyone who is not white or close to having white skin. Most people when they read this would say, “he’s going to hell,” or something to that extent.
Whites have many times in the past of this country discriminated against blacks. Most of the hatred comes from being raised from birth to hate them; I was fortunate enough to be raise a tolerant parents and my first friend was even black even though I didn’t really see us as any different. I know that whites in Texas are quickly becoming more and more outnumbered; although many would argue that the numbers don’t show it, I see it every day. Discrimination has been outlawed many times by many different laws, but there is something that they do not take into account. We now treat all races as we treat our own race, but the government and scholarships still acts as though they were just released from bondage.
I work hard for my grades and don’t wimp out when the class gets hard. Moreover, I don’t cheat on test and other assignments when I don’t feel like doing my work, like many other students. However, am I rewarded? No. I fill out scholarships all the time, trying to get a cheaper education, so that I may better the world. I see many times over that a requirement of a scholarship is to be “a minority,” and think well that’s one less I can do. Is this really fair? Is that not discriminating against anyone who is white? My fellow Caucasians and I are denied the right to an equal education because we cannot afford a certain colleges even with loans. That is not right. A person should be judged by their achievements, their efforts and their citizenship. Is that not what blacks fought and died for not so long ago? Then why does the color of skin matter now, when it comes to rewards? Many counter that blacks have been denied many rights and are owed scholarships. But they have been given these rights and not one of my fellow black students has been the victim of denied rights in their lives.
A spark was lit when a black student in my class who barely passes his classes and cheats his way to passing at that, was awarded a one thousand scholarship for each year in college for his “good grades.” I quite frankly have no clue how a barely passing grade is good enough for a scholarship when someone who works hard and pays attention in class gets much higher grades and is thought nothing of even when they apply for many scholarships. Why should the fact that he is black disqualify every white person who does better? He has the exact same opportunities as every other student; in fact, he has a better opportunity because he is rich. If he had been a better student then I, I would not have been offended; I would have actually felt good that a deserving student was recognized in my own class. I know that I am much smarter and a better citizen then him; yet I am blown over because the color of my skin. The fact that I am a white lower-middle class male makes no difference. When there is a study that confirms that a minority student does not learn as well as a white student, I will not feel like I am being treated justly based on my skin color.
Also when blacks yell out “Black Power!” it is considered uplifting, and overcoming prejudice; yet when a white man yells it out he is considered a racist because he is proud of whom he is. Since when did having pride in your race make you a racist? When a person says “White power!” to put another down then yes, it should not be tolerated, but come on, why can’t I be proud of whom I am? I am glad that blacks have been granted the same rights as me, but haven’t they been actually given more then a white? Laws such as Affirmative Action have made minorities above whites. I am all for hiring minorities, but when the government takes it too far it has to be stopped.
I want justice because I was denied the “pursuit of happiness” and under civil rights laws I should not be denied this because of my race.