Irony: that it has often been considered more desirable (by many white
people and many black people) that African Americans be lighter skinned, even though
that lighter skin is evidence of white ancestors, historically often by way of rape (or at
least coercive, grossly power-imbalanced relationships)
Irony: the notorious 3/5th's compromise, is often taken (not
entirely wrongly) to denigrate the worth of black slaves, having considered them just
60% of a person; in actuality, those favoring slavery at the
Constitutional Convention favored slaves being counted as fully as free people
when it came to apportioning representation in the House of Representatives,
while those against slavery favored them being counted at a smaller fraction, or
not at all. Thus, the odd 3/5th's fraction they agreed on (where ½ might have
been the logical, split the difference compromise) was an indication of the
strength of the pro-slavery faction.
Misconception: that affirmative action has primarily
benefited African Americans and other people of color. In fact, research will
bear out, I believe, that the lion's share of the benefits have been experienced by white, largely
middle-class, women.
Misconception: that most Medicaid expenses go to treating
poor, largely nonwhite Americans. In fact, I believe research shows that the
long-term institutional care of aging, ailing parents of middle-class white
people takes up the lion’s share of Medicaid expenses.
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