Uncomfortable Conversations with a Black Man

Introduced in the 1960s by President Kennedy to address extreme racial gaps in federal employment and higher education, Affirmative Action now describes policies and practices designed to prevent discrimination based on race, sex, creed, ability, and national origin in a wide range of domains. Affirmative Action aims to redress systemic inequalities resulting from centuries of racism. Because it gives preferential treatment to racial minorities, some decry Affirmative Action as a form of reverse racism (racism against White people). As Acho explains, however, the unfairness Black people experience is the goal of systemic racism. By contrast, the unfairness White people experience as a result of Affirmative Action is the byproduct of efforts to promote equality. In other words, the aim of Affirmative Action is not discriminate against White people. Acho maintains that, in this case, intention matters.

The term cultural appropriation refers to the adoption of an element or elements of one culture by members of a dominant culture. A well-known example is the appropriation of rap music by White artists. Acho compares cultural appropriation to plagiarism, arguing that White people who borrow from Black culture should, at the very least, understand the history of the thing they are borrowing. He explains that so long as racial inequality exists, all forms of cultural appropriation run the risk of being exploitative.