race

Post Ricci (well, even pre-Ricci), there seems to be a lot of discussion about race in America again. I should say, the discussion has been picked up by those who don't often discuss race in America. I don't have too much time to write, but it seems as though there is a consensus (at least amongst those who own magazines and are on Fox news) that America is now a color-blind and equal society throughout which the opportunities that are available to one are available to all--equally.

I wonder if we are willing to extend that belief to everything, or only when it appears to affect white men. Are we going to re-vamp public education? housing? banking? Maybe we'll take a look at incarceration and three-strikes laws...

To paraphrase the actual opinion:

[many a minority's] situation is "unfortunate" and... "understandably attract this Court’s sympathy." Post, at 1, 39. But "sympathy" is not what petitioners have a right to demand. What they have a right to demand is evenhanded enforcement of the law—of Title VII’s prohibition against discrimination based on race. And that is what, until today’s decision, has been denied them.

So yes, let's move forward and end discrimination based on race...everywhere we see it, not just when it affects white men.