SOCCER BALLS AND POLO FIELDS

I was recently chatting with a friend regarding Affirmative Action, Set Aside Programs, Minority Business Development, Government Contracts, SBA, Urbank and the like.

Essentially the discussion is as old as the 3/5th compromise established during the founding of this republic imposed upon the land of someone else. How do we politically and economically account for the disparate treatment under the law and still attempt to institute the rule of law. I say the rule of law rather than justice, for the rule of law and the enforcement of the law and in some case the non enforcement of the law, maintained slavery, maintained Jim Crow, maintained the reestablishment of the KKK, maintained the establishment of separate but equal , but not really!

This issue of economic opportunity vis a vis government intervention or non intervention can get really confusing. The Supreme Court said that on interstate transportation, separate black and white waiting rooms are illegal. Yet it takes the Freedom Riders to publicize under threat of death and imprisonment that the national law is not being enforced.

My friend who has stimulated this personal rant of mine, referenced that sometimes he feels like he is bringing a soccer ball to polo match in this disparate cultural connect where the weight of "prestige" "wealth" "power" and "place" can  trample the artistry of Pele with one whack of the mallet !

Perhaps seeking 40 acres and mule today is as unrealistic as  it was shortly after the civil war !

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