Throughout pages 71-100 of Race, Wrongs, and Remedies; Wax discusses the viability of employment remedies in trying to improve the situation of African Americans in America. An interesting point that Wax makes is that many people jump to the argument that race discrimination is the reason for many disadvantages African Americans face while looking for jobs. Wax asserts that race-based discrimination plays a negligible factor, which is something I never knew before. Further, Wax states that a many of the disadvantages African Americans face in looking for jobs stems from shortfalls in cognitive and noncognitive attitudes. Although many advocate for job training programs, Wax claims that these programs are ineffective because they cannot teach soft skills such as determination and communication, as these skills are established in early childhood. Much like her solutions proposed in education reform, Wax argues that behavioral reform in early childhood is the only effective remedy to improve the situation for African Americans. Although Wax asserts that job training is ineffective, I feel that it is something that cannot be done away with as it will only make the situation for African Americans even worse. Additionally, I agree with the point that behavioral reform at a young age would allow young children to develop soft skills, but the mechanisms for achieving this are unclear and do not seem attainable.
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One reply on “Wax on Employment Remedies Reflection”
The last point you bring up is an important one because these soft skills Wax brings up are ones that should be instilled in children from a very young age. These lack of soft skills points not only to a faulty educational system but also problems that arise from one parent house holds. Wax brings up the point about African American kids in the inner city are more likely to grow up in a single parent house hold. This lack of strong role models can also be a reason to blame for these children’s lack of these skills.