The New Discrimination: Reverse Racism and Straight WHITE Men as the True Minority

It seems that in this new millennium man has come fairly far in his ability to accept those that are different from him. Thanks largely in part to those fearless warriors of the civil rights movement, as well as the feminist and gay rights movements. There are also many more people willing to look past ones color, sex, or partner preference, and treat others as equals. This is also due to a bit of mans spiritual awakening, and we mustn't forget to give thanks for Gods help in all this either.

However, there seems to be a new form of discrimination forming, especially in this country we call America. This discrimination comes in various forms; it's harder for these people to receive help from government agencies, such as welfare, or student loan and grant agencies. They aren't even allowed to have their own private clubs. Even worse, these people can be turned down for employment based on who they are.

The people I am speaking of have become the new minority in this country, and are discriminated against more than any other group of people in existence, mostly because they are the only group left who don't have special protection. I am speaking of the straight, white male. Don't seem so shocked, and try to keep your jaw from dropping because it's true!

This is the one group of people who have no special rights, or even advocates speaking up for them. See, when you take several groups of peoples, who alone make up a small percentage of the population, and group them together into one category, minorities, you now have a single group of people who suddenly become the majority, therefore, they are no longer the minority.

Let's look at a couple of examples, because I am sure at this point someone's ready to hang me. At one time I lived on the west side of Tucson Arizona, which is predominately made up of Hispanic people. When I lived here I was unable to get a job anywhere, including fast food joints, in which I had more than significant experience. The one and only, reason sighted to me for this was my inability to speak Spanish. Now, I realize that most of the customers that frequented these places were Spanish speaking, and this is apparently their right, which I personally have no problem with. However, I am a cook, and for someone to tell me that I can't flip burgers because I never learned to speak a foreign language is quite frankly ludicrous. Further more, it wasn't just the fact that I didn't speak Spanish that kept me from gaining employment but I believe it was the color of my skin as well. In the six months that I lived in this area I never once saw a white person working behind the counter at any of these places. Not even one who spoke Spanish! Believe me in Tucson there are several white people who speak Spanish, it is almost required.

What I find more disturbing still is that I had no recourse. Try being a white person and trying to claim that you have been discriminated against, all you will get are snickers and shaking heads. However, if the situation were reversed, and I've seen it myself, and someone was turned down for a job because of an inability to speak English, the person applying could cry discrimination and the employer would hire that person in simple fear of legal recourse or even simply to avoid the possible media frenzy caused by that persons apparent racism. The employer would have no choice but to make accommodations for this person, or else risk losing everything they had worked years to build.

O.k. so that's one example you say; fine, let's look at another example. I know of a divorced white man who is disabled and on a measly fixed income. When he tried to apply for food stamps and medical insurance through the state he was told that they couldn't help him. However during the interview the case worker noticed certain facial features and bone structure and asked the man if he was of Native American descent. The man replied truthfully with a "yes, why?" The case worker then told him that if the percentage of Native blood was high enough that he could walk out the door with his food stamps! Needless to say, he was quite displeased and left. Now tell me that is not racism. The welfare system is notorious for reverse racism, it is much easier for a person of color, or a female for that matter, to receive assistance than it is for a white male; how is that fair?

Another example of this reverse discrimination is evident everywhere one goes, however most of us choose not to see it. Many times has a private club or establishment been plastered into the media headlines for refusal to allow someone into their midst. Golf courses and country clubs were repeatedly chastised for not allowing blacks to join or play. This is, of course, no longer allowed by law, and rightfully so. The law now states that no one may discriminate against someone because of the color of their skin or their sex. Well, if that's true then why is it I can go into any city, or town, and find a gym that only allows females as members? Why is it that I can't get a scholarship to go to school from the United Negro College Fund? How many clubs and organizations have been legally forced to allow someone in because discrimination is illegal? If we are so open minded, why do so many applications, as well as the standardized tests my son takes every year at school, ask for your race? Aren't we all a part of the human race? Shouldn't everyone have an equal opportunity? What would people say if someone started a college fund solely for white people, say the United Anglo College Fund? What would people say if we held a straight pride parade? We would be called the discriminators, but it seems fine for everyone else to do. What about the hundreds of qualified people who were turned down for jobs during affirmative action because they were straight white men, supposedly not a minority, and the employer had to hire a certain percentage of minorities? In fact I'm curious to see if the statistics wouldn't show straight white men to be the minority. Just as other people didn't have a choice as to whom they would be born as, nor did we.

Please, don't get me wrong. I believe everyone should have an equal opportunity. I believe everyone should receive the help they need. In short I believe everyone should have equal rights, even if they are white, straight, and male. How is it if someone talks bad about a minority it isn't politically correct? However, if someone speaks out against a white person or a man, everyone looks the other way? Look, not all white men are power hungry corporate yes men who have had everything handed to them on a silver platter. I've worked my fingers to the bone for over 13 yeas and have little to nothing to show for it. Not all of us straight white men are privileged, or discriminatory.

In closing I would just like to say that discrimination is discrimination, and the only color that really matters anymore is cold, hard, green. If people shouldn't be discriminated against because of their color of skin, race, religion, sex, or choice of partner, then NO ONE should be discriminated against for these reasons, even straight, white, men.