Affirmative Action and Refugees of Color: Starting the Conversation
Dorian Brown Crosby
Janita Bah
ABSTRACT
African Americans are the typical group that comes to mind when the words affirmative action are mentioned. Although white women were the initial benefactors of the policy, the most publicity surrounding its usage has come in the applications of African Americans and other marginalized groups into institutions of higher education. One of these marginalized groups is refugees. Scholars agree that education and employment are among the domains necessary for the successful integration of refugees into their host country. When faced with the challenge of integration amid discrimination in employment and seeking an education, refugees of color need advocacy to seek recourse for such acts. As an underrepresented minority group, more attention should be paid to connecting resettled refugees of color to affirmative action. To that …show more content…
All refugees resettled in the U.S. are required to reach self-sufficiency within three months of their arrival in the U.S. Self-sufficiency is predicated upon successfully integrating into U.S. society. Integration is critical in order for all refugees to reach the federally mandated goal of self-sufficiency. Successful integration only occurs when certain aspects of life are achieved—employment and education being two identified in a widely acknowledged integration framework (Ager & Strang, 2008). Yet, discrimination in these two areas of integration may hinder refugees of color from either reaching self-sufficiency However, if integration obstacles, such as discrimination in seeking employment and an education occur, reaching self-sufficiency may be delayed or
Dorian Brown Crosby
Janita Bah
ABSTRACT
African Americans are the typical group that comes to mind when the words affirmative action are mentioned. Although white women were the initial benefactors of the policy, the most publicity surrounding its usage has come in the applications of African Americans and other marginalized groups into institutions of higher education. One of these marginalized groups is refugees. Scholars agree that education and employment are among the domains necessary for the successful integration of refugees into their host country. When faced with the challenge of integration amid discrimination in employment and seeking an education, refugees of color need advocacy to seek recourse for such acts. As an underrepresented minority group, more attention should be paid to connecting resettled refugees of color to affirmative action. To that …show more content…
All refugees resettled in the U.S. are required to reach self-sufficiency within three months of their arrival in the U.S. Self-sufficiency is predicated upon successfully integrating into U.S. society. Integration is critical in order for all refugees to reach the federally mandated goal of self-sufficiency. Successful integration only occurs when certain aspects of life are achieved—employment and education being two identified in a widely acknowledged integration framework (Ager & Strang, 2008). Yet, discrimination in these two areas of integration may hinder refugees of color from either reaching self-sufficiency However, if integration obstacles, such as discrimination in seeking employment and an education occur, reaching self-sufficiency may be delayed or