The Boston Marathon, bless its soul, does not give American bonuses and popularizes Kenyan winners like Cosmas Ndeti. But increasingly, race organizers think white fans cannot relate to Africans. They want a long-distance Larry Bird. They are very sore losers. But the 1996 Olympic marathon winner, Josia Thugwane of South Africa, lived until recently in a shack in a town with no general electricity.
African children run miles to school.
Kenyan girls race barefooted. They want their economic and old-boy head starts while telling people of color to compete for test scores out of bad schools and gain job experience in hostile workplaces. White affirmative action in running devalues African determination and the pride of other foreigners who excel on our turf, rewards inferiority and mocks merit. If a company gave grand bonuses to inspire employees just because they were black, white folks would run 26.2 miles to the Supreme Court. It is one more proof that America is not against affirmative action.