Equality of Opportunity
The Native Americans were the first people in the United States. They had been in the country for many years before 1633. The arrival of the Europeans in America made the life of Native Americans hard as they were denied some of the privileges and were referred to as savages. From 1633, they were denied equal opportunities to employment, education, and ownership of land. They were relocated from their lands and kept in concentration camps and their farms allocated to the white people. For many years, Indians in the United States were overlooked and ignored during the allocation of job opportunities and education. Over the years, the Native American people have overcome some of the barriers hindering them from benefitting from equal opportunities.
According to Brian Cladoosby, who is the president of the National Congress of American Indians (NCAI), progress is being made in the Indian nation-states in the implementation of policies that will strengthen their justice system and economies (Dussias, 2001). It has, in turn, improved the quality of life for the Indians. Today, less than 25% of Native Americans are living in poverty, and many of their children are educated (Dussias, 2001). Suicide cases among the Indians are the leading cause of death, and they are twice as likely to die before the age of 24 than any other race in the country (Dussias, 2001). However, with the commitment made to modernize the trust relationship and to empower the tribes, Native Americans are now successful in school, work, and life. Various programs have been established to strengthen the community and give them equal opportunities with other groups.
African Americans are another group that has been in the United States from 1633 and who has struggled with a lack of equal opportunities. They have failed to attain equality of opportunities and are still regarded as being inferior to white people. African Americans first came to the country as slaves, where they worked for the white people in their farms and received very little or no pay. They were denied rights such as the right to vote, right to own property, among others (Pew Research Center, 2013). Over the years, they have fought for equal rights with little success. They managed to end slavery and are now allowed to vote and own property. However, they are yet to benefit from equality of opportunities as they are often overlooked and disregarded during employment, and most of them are poorly educated.
Martin Luther King Junior led the civil rights movement to ensure that black people receive equal opportunities. This is yet to be achieved even after he delivered his famous speech, “ I Have a Dream” in Washington D.C. In the U.S., blacks are more likely to be treated unfairly by the police and the justice system than whites. They are also discriminated against in public schools and in other community institutions. Seven in ten black people are more likely to be treated less fairly by the police (Pew Research Center, 2013). This is evident in the recent case of George Floyd, who died in police custody and has led to the campaign on black lives matter. It is an example showing that this group is yet to overcome obstacles that restrict their rights.
Equality of opportunity is the idea that people should be allowed to compete on a level playground or on equal terms for positions and benefits. From 1633, various groups have struggled with equal opportunities with some succeeding in attaining it, while others are yet to receive the benefits that come with equality of opportunities. Indian Americans have been successful in gaining equal opportunities as they have developed policies that ensure that they are well represented. The African Americans however, are still regarded as inferior and hence struggle in attaining equal opportunities. From this, one can learn that open competition should be allowed for advantaged positions, and the best-qualified candidate should be considered regardless of their gender, race, sexual orientation, and religious believes, among other things. Our role as individuals is to support the groups as they fight for equal opportunities and ensure that we do not discriminate against anyone based on their gender, race, or ethnicity.
References
Dussias, A. M. (2001). Let no Native American child be left behind: Re-envisioning Native American education for the twenty-first century. Ariz. L. Rev., 43, 819.
Pew Research Center. (2013). King’s dream remains an elusive goal; Many Americans see racial disparities. Pew Research Social & Demographic Trends.