This is sort of true and sort of not. In AB and BC, at least, the universities do allow Aboriginal people into an Arts program with somewhat lower grade point averages (I think all they need is a 65% to get in). It is easier to get in, but I'd say that if you truly were not motivated, you simply would not enter post-secondary education, and indeed, Aboriginal people have one of the highest highschool drop out rates despite the easier entrance requirements.
Having said that, they still are required to do the regular work of a Arts degree (most end up taking a degree in Native Studies) with course requirements outside of their faculty (i.e ENG 101 is a killer at UOA for many students). Many Aboriginal people coming directly from high school or enter as mature students and end up taking a one year transitional program where their skills are upgraded so that they are on par with a university level.
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Originally Posted by MariconesUnited  This highlighted answer is closer to what I'm saying, but not exactly it. I mean that if someone knows they don't have to study to go to University, it's more than likely that they won't. Which is going to make their transition into University much more difficult than it was for the other students. |
Yes, saying someone is white is a tad absurd as it really doesn't say much due to the amount of different between white people. I try not to bring up racial or ethnic labels unless I see a clear reason for doing so. Out of my 5 coworkers, one of them is filipino, and often, if I need to determine which coworker a customer is talking about, it is just a hell of a lot easier to ask, 'Are you talking about the filipino woman'? Race, as constructs, can also be useful in terms of statistics and public policy. So I'm not for the complete abolition of labels. I've met people who thought it was a good idea to get rid of racial and gender labels, but I really don't see the point. It is the structural marginalization that is the problem.
My point really was that labels distort reality.
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Originally Posted by MariconesUnited I don't think the term ''black'' is a label, it's a descriptor. It's quite inaccurate, as you point out, but then using different terms for different shades of brown would be ridiculously complicated. Do you object to the term ''white'' for the same reason? |