Let Obama and King inspire us to invest in children's education

The first black President took the oath of office on Tuesday. One day after we, as a nation, celebrate the life and accomplishments of Martin Luther King, Jr. — not the first, but easily America’s best-known civil rights activist. The historic symbolism is overwhelming, yet I think there is something missing from today’s conversation of black achievement in America. The election of President Obama is proof positive that black Americans have, can, and will continue to succeed in a country that once viewed them as second-class citizens. If Americans are ready to elect a black President, are we not ready to finally get rid of affirmative action programs in our colleges and universities? Four hundred years of slavery and virulent racism preceded the death of King, but the forty years following his assassination have been filled with progress, change, and progressive social policies. It is truly remarkable to consider how much progress has been made in such a short amount of time. The ultimate sign of progress, of change, has been reached in electing a black man President of the United States. This change in the attitudes and sentiment of the electorate must be mirrored by a change in policy — namely, in how we approach the education of all young Americans and, especially, our black children. It is not green technology, it is not national health care, nor is it ending wars around the world that will ultimately improve the quality of life in this country. It is education. Cities around this nation are filled with an untapped resource — children. Inner-city schools, with overwhelmingly black and Hispanic populations, are being ignored. Not enough qualified teachers, not enough books, not enough help from the government, and not enough help and guidance from parents and communities. Instead of addressing our failing school systems we have become comfortable and complacent and have continued to back affirmative action programs. Wait until minority students are on the doorstep of entering college (those who make it to their high school graduation that is) and then we can address the problem. And how do we do that? We lower college entrance standards so that we might see more black and brown and yellow faces in our university classrooms. This is wrong. Affirmative action — not as it was intended to work, but as it has (not) worked — is pushing underprepared masses of black students into our higher institutions. The sad fact is that many of these students cannot survive the rigors of college. Of course this is not because of race and not because they are black. It is because they are not prepared! All children deserve an opportunity to succeed. By focusing on our K-12 schools for a change, let us guarantee the opportunity to succeed and stop merely guaranteeing college acceptance letters. So why now? Because this is one of those moments in history that just doesn’t come along too often. This country is finally changing the way it looks at black and white. We must ride this wave of change and also change the way we look at right and wrong. Affirmative action is wrong. Our black children can do anything. They can get into college, they can follow their dreams, they can follow King’s dream. They can become the President. They can do it all if we let them. This country owes black America at least that much. Barack Obama became the President of the United States of America because he took full advantage of his opportunity to succeed. A black President. It’s about time. Henry Tranes Goshen, N.Y.