Affirmative Action

You failed to adequately bring into focus the countless years minorities and blacks have been subjected to bias on the job and in their lives (Nov. 4).

Growing up in South Carolina, I and my cousins were bused past white schools to poorly equipped all-black elementary schools. It made for a less than ideal learning environment. The white schools had the latest learning materials; each white student had books. But then all of a sudden everyone is declared “equal” and is supposed to compete for jobs and schools on an equal basis. How can they? Minorities and blacks have been handicapped by the system for years.

There will always be some backlash by the group who has had power and privilege for untold years simply because they are unwilling to accept responsibility for the current situation and realize they must now switch places with the group they have been discriminating against. Who would want to do that?

I don’t believe there is an equitable way to rectify the wrongs of the past that will make everyone happy. I also don’t think this should be a reason not to rectify the past ills of American society.

JUANA LOPEZ, San Bernardino