Talking Point 6

A Particularly Cheap White Whine
By Tim Wise

"Fact is, there are plenty of scholarships that
have nothing to do with merit per se, but about which conservatives say nothing: scholarships for people who are left-handed, or kids whose parents sell Tupperware, or the children of horse-
breeders, or descendants of the signers of the Declaration of Independence, among many thousands of such awards (3)."
- I think this is pretty ridiculous.  A kid should not be able to get a scholarship just because their parents sell Tupperware or because they are left-handed.  They should earn the right to get a scholarship by getting good grades.  These scholarships should not be gifts. 

"Black students are far more likely than white students to come from lower-income families, and in fact, at selective colleges and universities (which are typically among the most expensive in the country, and those where students are most likely to receive some form of affirmative action), the average black student comes from a family with half the median income of the average white student (11)."
-  He makes a good point here.  Black students should be given the scholarship if they need it.  They should not be given the scholarship just because they are black. 

"In effect, these are not scholarships based on race, but rather, scholarships based on a recognition of racism and how racism has shaped the opportunity structure in the U. S."
-I think these scholarships are based on race.  How can you call them scholarships based on recognition of racism, rather than race.  They are the same thing. 

This article opened my eyes about scholarships in America.  I feel like students should not just be given scholarships just because they are left-handed or if their parents sell Tupperware.  It is crazy that kids get scholarships for reasons like this.  They should have to earn the right to receive a scholarship.  They either have to get good grades or be in great need of money in order to pay for school.  Scholarships should not be given they should be earned.