Fairness, Equality, and Equity

As children, people often want the world to be fair. 🌈 If someone brings cookies, kids will want to share them evenly. However, it does not take long to realise the world is far from fair. Some kids are naturally smart, while others have to work harder to succeed. There are rich people, and poor people. There are majorities, and minorities. As one grows up, they usually find themselves surrounded by debates regarding equal rights, and equal opportunity.

It turns out the color of a person’s skin, and how much their parents earn pushes them into a category. Johnny finds out he’s a majority because he’s a middle class white male. Alice is a minority because she’s an African American female. Children learn, if they pay attention in history, that those of European descent have been the kings of causing racial unfairness. It turns out that these white people did terrible things, and oppressed other races. White people took advantage of other races for cheap labor. They forced other races off of their land, so they could have it for themselves. Of course, they also learn that the world is trying to become more equal. Relatively recent movements have gained equal rights, and protection under the law for minorities (in more places). Yay...

That seems great until everyone realises that it didn’t solve the whole problem. These minorities are still getting the rotten end of the deal. They have been less likely to go to college, and less likely to obtain high paying jobs. Minorities still aren’t on equal footing.  They aren’t really treated fairly. It’s a problem of deciding what is really meant by making the minorities, and the majority “equal”.

Equity might be the true answer. This means giving everyone what they need to have a fair chance at success. For example, poor minority neighborhoods might need more support in their schools; which includes money, and more skilled teachers. They will likely require more resources, so their children can have the same opportunity to succeed. Put simply, leveling the playing field to be more fair could be a more productive way of approaching the movement for equality.

It is incredibly important that people begin discussing the matter of equity too (They are different). Throughout the world, nobody will agree on the matter of racial equality or the idea equity. Everyone differs in what their idea of being equal means. It would be nice if people could start to talk about it openly, and without judgement or hatred joining the party. All sides need to settle their issues peacefully, because everyone has to live together.

☺😀If everyone can keep it civil, I'd like the comment section to be a safe place to just talk about this topic.😀😃