Krasemann Blog Post 2
In the latter half of her article “Whiteness as Property”, Harris explores the effects and results of affirmative action. While she spends the beginning portions of the article grappling with the history of whiteness as property, it is necessary to explain the more relevant subject of affirmative action. Harris’ discussion leads me to question the future of her claims, especially considering that the article was written nearly 3 decades ago.
Harris claims that “In according "preferences" for Blacks and other oppressed groups, affirmative action is said to be "reverse discrimination" against whites, depriving them of their right to equal protection of the laws” (1767). She proceeds to explain how this is not the case. However, is affirmative action still regarded with such a disdainful eye today? While Harris makes a few claims about the future of affirmative action and moving forward with dismantling whiteness as property, I believe she leaves much up for discussion.
The Bakke court case solidifies the fact that white people refused to acknowledge aspects of affirmative action until well into the 20th century. Harris points out that “Expectations of privilege based on past and present wrongs, however, are illegitimate and are therefore not immune from interference” (1772). I find this point difficult to wrap my head around, for it defies human interpretation. While I agree with the fact that progress requires novel thought, I do not believe that this makes past expectations illegitimate. Work needs to be done to curve these expectations and unveil the true intentions of affirmative action, but these expectations also reveal much about the past. Today, many people interpret affirmative action based on what has occurred in the past. The acknowledgment of unrealistic expectations, rather than the act of making something illegitimate, molds future progress. The Bakke case emphasized a clear flaw in American legal systems. However, this flaw was necessary to ignite future progress.
The future of affirmative action and struggle for equality is uncertain. Reading Harris’ article well after it was written certainly helped highlight the past, but unfortunately, many of her points from the 1990s still hold true today. With regard to the future, Harris states that “In challenging the property interest in whiteness, affirmative action could facilitate the destruction of the false premises of legitimacy and exclusivity inherent in whiteness and break the distorting link between white identity and property” (1789). This was a hopeful statement, as shown by the word “could”. 2020 has highlighted prevalent issues in racial equality and has also brought affirmative action into the spotlight more than ever. What changes would Harris make to her article from nearly 30 years ago? The many white people who continue to be defensive about their race and claim to be the subject of discrimination may be missing Harris’ point “that what is unequal in fact will be regarded as equal in law.” (1777)
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