That means a bunch of white folks think we still need to ensure women and minorities get a chance at doing city work. They believe Texas has not yet reached the point where we can trust everyone to be color-blind when it comes to awarding government contracts. And it means they realize women and minorities have not had equal access to opportunities previously afforded only to white men. When state lawmakers faced court decisions that banned race or ethnicity as a consideration in college admissions, they met the challenge by enacting laws that offered special consideration based on economic need. And they guaranteed students who did well in high school could get into college no matter what their race or gender.
Affirmative action is two-edged sword.
It is meant to ensure everyone gets an equal chance. In ensuring that for some, it means those who don't fit in certain categories face the same discrimination as those it is meant to protect. White college students sued when they weren't admitted to the UT law school because affirmative action programs gave slots to minorities. A black man in Austin lost a city contract when he refused to register as a minority-owned business. And my Hispanic son bristles at the idea that he could get a scholarship or get admitted to college based on the color of his skin.