I’m confused: What is the equity that Kamala Harris is talking about?

Op-ed views and opinions expressed are solely those of the author.

On Sept 29, the vice president of the United States, Kamala Harris, spoke at the groundbreaking Women’s Leadership Conference at the White House. When she was asked a question about Hurricane Ian relief she said, “The Biden administration will focus on giving resources based on equity by directing funds to communities of color first. “As typically happens when either President Biden or Vice-president Harris makes a misstatement, somebody from the White House must walk it back. The FEMA administrator and the White House press secretary corrected Vice President Harris saying hurricane aid would be distributed based on need and help everyone who needs it. (Factcheck.org Oct 3). Harris used a word I have heard used in many other issues, equity. It doesn’t seem to be the right word, but Democrats keep using it and, in this case, using the word equity regarding FEMA hurricane response, and made no sense.

The University of the People defines equity as “Dealing fairly and equally with all concerned.” They say, “The goal of equity is to help achieve fairness in treatment and outcomes, and it’s a way in which equality is achieved.” They explain equity, “For example, the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) was written so that people with disabilities are ensured equal access to public places. It means that public restrooms need to have ramps so that people in wheelchairs can enter.

They made a crucial point about equity for children saying the law requires considering the different circumstances from which someone enters a situation to achieve equality. That’s because every individual is inherently different. “Regarding fairness and setting up children for success, varying needs must be considered.”

Let me use a different example by asking you a question. In your life which way did you learn better and faster, auditorily own visually? If you are an auditory learner, would you have learned as well if your teacher only used a visual teaching method? Were you discriminated against because your teachers didn’t use the teaching method which was best for you to learn? Equity and equality are not equal ideas, and some social scientists believe equality depends on equity. To be able to make something the same for everyone, it first requires “Leveling the playing field.” Some on the left preach that equity is the idea of leveling the playing field, that fairness should happen along the path to success for everyone. Equality treats everyone equally without paying attention to the natural differences between people of different races, sexes, social classes, etc. The very things that politically motivated equity believers want us to ignore are the natural differences between people of different races, sexes, social classes, etc. that make us unique as human beings. 

Further, I find the actions of some black leaders actually going against equity. If equity means inclusion, why do some black college students want separate dorms, meals, and coursework away from whites and other minorities? 

Look at what the woke leaders are trying to do with Title 9. The proposed new rules call for regulations that will require all students to receive appropriate support in accessing all aspects of education. They will strengthen protections for LGBTQI+ students who face discrimination based on sexual orientation or gender identity. And they will require that school procedures for complaints of sex discrimination, including sexual violence and other sex-based harassment, be fair to all involved. The proposed regulations also reaffirm the core commitment to fundamental fairness for all parties, respect for freedom of speech and academic freedom, respect for autonomy, and transparent legal obligations that enable robust enforcement of Title 9.

Attorney General, John O’Connor, and a coalition of 26 state attorneys general are calling on President Joe Biden to withdraw the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) new guidance on sex discrimination for schools and programs that receive federal nutritional assistance. They say the recent guidance from the USDA imposes new—and unlawful—regulatory measures on state agencies and operators receiving federal financial aid from the USDA. On May 5, 2022, the USDA’s Food and Nutrition Service (FNS) announced it would expand its interpretation of the prohibition on sex discrimination found in Title 9 to include discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity. As a result, any state, local agency, or program that receives federal funds through The FNS Act and the Supplemental Nutritional Assistance Program (SNAP) administered by the USDA must, in theory, comply with this unlawful application of Bostock v. Clayton County and Title 9, or lose federal funding. Children, including minority children, will be deprived of food because their schools do not comply with the administration’s wishes. 

Some believe that since Title 9 was passed by Congress only Congress can amend the existing law, and they believe that the President does not have the power to amend the law. We will likely see more challenges to the Biden Administration’s action on these changes.

These proposed additions to Title 9 represent the Biden Administration abandoning the Constitution and the rule of law to decide that they can make changes. They think they are above the law, and only they can make the decision as to what to do. The administration has already proven that it will not do what the court orders. The COVID-19 mandates from the CDC were ruled unconstitutional, and the administration ignored the court and enforced them anyway. 

Equity is the wrong word, and we should consider using other words like fairness or equality. 

Dan Perkins is the author of 9 books and is a nationally syndicated talk show expert. He is the founder of the Black and White radio and TV network. He is the host of two shown on the network Blacks and Whites and Dan After Dark. 

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