Race and Opportunity: The Impact of Benefits from Invisible Government Policy

Race significantly impacts the opportunities available to individuals, as seen in the contrasting experiences of Katrina and Jasmine. While Katrina, a white woman, easily transitions from a CNA to nursing school through a scholarship, Jasmine, a black girl, faces obstacles and discouragement on her path to college. This disparity is rooted in historical government policies like the GI Bill that primarily benefitted white families, creating a cycle of advantage passed down through generations. These benefits are often invisible to many, who attribute success solely to meritocracy, disregarding the systemic advantages certain groups have received through government policies.