Why Can't We Wait - Martin Luther King Jr

Additional Topic

"Why Can't We Wait" is an acclaimed work by Martin Luther King Jr. that assisted in the Civil Rights Movement by making the African American struggle publicized to the country, as well as on international levels. In chapter 8, section 3, of his book, Dr. King makes a statement that hints at the necessity of compensatory consideration for African Americans and minorities alike. Today Americans argue over the pros and cons of such "compensatory consideration" that is given with Affirmative Action. While the system has its definite flaws, it is hard to argue that Affirmative Action does not overall benefit society for the greater good.

Affirmative Action gives the "underdog" of society a chance to run in the same race as those socially and economically superior to them. Generally, those with a higher status socioeconomic background are more likely to experience certain advantages; including costly higher education, better paying jobs, and more life opportunities, than those who come from less fortunate socioeconomic backgrounds. Minority racial and ethnic groups are more likely to come from disadvantaged backgrounds, and therefore, have less likelihood to be presented with the same opportunities that their white counterparts are given. Affirmative Action sets in place a policy that ensures these underprivileged minorities are given an equal chance to succeed.

"The Trials of Phillis Wheatley" is a bibliographic novel about a slave that essentially wrote her way into freedom. Phyllis Wheatley was the first African American to publish a book of poems, and was infamous throughout western culture during a time when blacks were not given such great recognition. Her masterpieces of literature were shot down by many, including Thomas Jefferson, who claimed slaves have souls and emotion but lacked the intellect to write poetry. (Gates) Although Wheatley was proclaimed and received some recognition from her poetry, she still lived a poor and destitute life after slavery. After she was free Wheatley married a grocer, and they lived a underprivileged life and even endured the death of two infants. At some time after her emancipation, Wheatley wrote another volume of poems that she could not afford to publish. Her husband was later arrested, and Phillis became impoverished and died of illness. (Doak) If Affirmative Action had been in place at the time of Wheatley's life, she may have been given a chance to attend school once she was freed. With all her poetic talent and literature brilliance, one can only imagine what more great works she may have been able to publish. A good education and job would have given Wheatley the monetary comfort to be able to publish her additional volume of poems. She could have influenced rights for other minorities as well, such as the women's rights movement, and she might have been able to share her gift of writing far longer than she did.

American society is increasingly becoming more and more diverse, and with the evolving cultural diversity needs to come evolving ideas. In other words, American culture cannot thrive and flourish within it's diversity unless Americans themselves embrace these differences to better the country economically, socially, and technologically. Affirmative Action represents the chance to bring multi-faceted and differing cultures and ethnicities together in a uniform way, working with and along side one another. It is not possible to expect one who has never been exposed or worked with people of different ethnicities, to be able to adequately and successfully assimilate in a workplace that is racially diverse. In an amicus brief to the Supreme Court in the case of Grutter v. Bollinger, the fortune-500 company stated, "In the experience of the amici businesses, today's global marketplace and the increasing diversity

in the American population demand the cross-cultural experience and understanding

gained

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