Jesse Jackson actually went further than Meeks; he proposed limiting minority set-asides to only blacks born in the United States because blacks from other countries hadn't truly experienced racism.
This makes some sense, as the harms from centuries of racism are against one group unlike what other groups have had.
Many groups have had terrible problems with poverty and oppression, but the American black experience is unique in US history.
The problem is you are making a point from your misguided lie of what affirmative action is. Hey it's just fun to give away stuff and pander to minorities for votes!
That's your version, and so any comment from that is similarly idiotic. Affirmative Action can have different purposes, but the primary original intent involves recognizing that there is not an equal starting point in society to say 'after those centuries, now you are equal', and to try to provide some small amount of correction for a more equal opportunity when the history of racism creates perpetual inequality today.
Under that standard, the son of a black Chicago heart surgeon deserves special consideration, but the immigrant son of a South African dustman does not.
Yes, that's an average example. The fact that you have to lie by selecting such an atypical example, and not honestly discussing the real average situation, proves how wrong your 'point' is. If the average black today had overcome the effects of centuries of racism to the point the average had a surgeon father, we wouldn't need any affirmative action. But that's not the case - except in your lie version of the black situation and history.
Meeks is by Jackson's standards relatively enlightened; as long as you have the complexion for the connection he'd hook you up with some tax money without unduly worrying about your recent history. Of course, the descendant of an Irish slave or an impressed Chinese railway worker or a Vietnamese immigrant fleeing Communist death squads and arriving with literally nothing but the clothes he is wearing are all far too privileged to be allowed to compete with the son of the black Chicago heart surgeon by Meeks' standards, but hey, you can't have everything.
The immigrant from Vietnam tyranny in the past can have a terrible situation, and for other reasons be deserving of assistance if we choose for humanitarian reasons.
But the African-American situation is uniquely American, something OUR NATION did to millions of blacks, making it arguably more our responsibility than foreign tyranny.
I'm all for putting the human race first and looking how the US can practically help reduce poverty and injustice globally, but the African-American history is unique.
Of course, when you agenda is nothing more than some combination of racism and ignorance, I don't expect you to agree much.
The group who has nothing to say for other oppressed poor, except when they can be used for debating points against African-American programs.
