A- None of This is Fair

None of This is Fair is an essay written by Richard Rodriguez. In this essay, Rodriguez discusses his experiences with Affirmative Action.

Rodriguez describes how, being a Hispanic American, he received more opportunities than other white students. He tells how he once took advantage of his color but one of his teachers told him how he still must work as hard as everyone else. Rodriguez later discussed Affirmative Action with a fellow student whom was white. This student compared Affirmative Action to be his own modern version of the discrimination his parents, whom are Jewish, received when they were his age. This clearly affected Rodriguez as he declined to take the job spot at Yale University he was offered. Rodriguez agrees that Affirmative Action is not fair to other actual minorities, like the poor. I agree very much with this assertion. Affirmative Action is supposedly enacted to give minorities a chance. It des not focus on actual people who need that chance though, such as the poor. If Affirmative Action is supposed to help disadvantaged students, why are these wondrous opportunities offered to students who work hard and still need help? I believe a bright poor student should receive more help than an average Hispanic or Black student who grew up in middle-class or even upper-class homes. Simply because a student has skin of color does not always mean they need this extra help. Disadvantaged students do, no matter what their skin color is.

I commend Richard Rodriguez for his stance on Affirmative Action especially since he is a beneficiary of it. It shows his view that all people should be treated as equal and that help should be provided to those whom it is really needed. I very much agree with Rodriguez and his essay None of This is Fair.

Essay from The Norton Sampler pages 81-86