Vivek Ramaswamy who is out campaigning for Republican candidate Vivek Ramaswamy engaged in a heated confrontation with a young African-American woman, who he claimed was a Kamala Harris supporter on the topic of “systemic racism”.
The conversation began with the young woman questioning Ramaswamy’s perspective on America's greatness, particularly as a person of color himself. “To you, being a man of color, when exactly was America great?” she asked, pressing him on whether he would willingly go back to any specific period in history. Ramaswamy, a biotech entrepreneur turned political contender, responded affirmatively, citing the years 2016 to 2020 as an example of a period he would return to, insisting that, despite its flaws, America has been “great” throughout its history.
Ramaswamy acknowledged America's historical injustices, including slavery, redlining, and Jim Crow laws, but maintained that these do not negate his perception of the nation’s overall greatness. "Was America perfect? No. Was America great? Yes, it was," he stated. This response sparked a further line of questioning from the young woman, who argued that America has not provided equitable opportunities for African Americans, particularly African-American women like herself, who face entrenched challenges in achieving their professional goals.
In a pointed exchange, the young woman stated her goal of becoming a criminal defence attorney, noting that African Americans make up only a small percentage of lawyers in the US, Ramaswamy, however, reframed the issue, stating that he believes personal effort, rather than systemic barriers, largely determines success in America. “I believe the number one factor that determines whether you succeed in this country is not your skin colour,” he said. “It is whether or not you actually put in the effort to do what you want.”
When the conversation turned to the topic of discrimination, Ramaswamy suggested that political bias may now play a larger role in professional obstacles than racial discrimination, claiming that supporters of conservative viewpoints, particularly those associated with Donald Trump’s "Make America Great Again" campaign, face discrimination at levels exceeding that of racial bias. He shared an anecdote of an employee allegedly reprimanded for wearing a red sweater, which was perceived as symbolising political allegiance, to illustrate the intolerance he believes is being fostered in some professional environments.
Throughout his campaign, Ramaswamy has consistently challenged the concept of systemic racism , arguing that affirmative action , rather than promoting fairness, inadvertently perpetuates racial divisions. In this exchange, he suggested that affirmative action policies have contributed to a resurgence of anti-Black sentiment, as some individuals assume minorities are granted professional roles due to racial quotas rather than merit. He argued for a “colorblind meritocracy” as the ideal solution to achieving true equality.
The conversation began with the young woman questioning Ramaswamy’s perspective on America's greatness, particularly as a person of color himself. “To you, being a man of color, when exactly was America great?” she asked, pressing him on whether he would willingly go back to any specific period in history. Ramaswamy, a biotech entrepreneur turned political contender, responded affirmatively, citing the years 2016 to 2020 as an example of a period he would return to, insisting that, despite its flaws, America has been “great” throughout its history.
Ramaswamy acknowledged America's historical injustices, including slavery, redlining, and Jim Crow laws, but maintained that these do not negate his perception of the nation’s overall greatness. "Was America perfect? No. Was America great? Yes, it was," he stated. This response sparked a further line of questioning from the young woman, who argued that America has not provided equitable opportunities for African Americans, particularly African-American women like herself, who face entrenched challenges in achieving their professional goals.
A young Kamala Harris voter in Pennsylvania told me earlier today she can’t get ahead in America because of “systemic racism.” Here’s what I told her: the more you think of yourself as a victim, the more likely you are to become one. pic.twitter.com/ecEP7ZNLFq
— Vivek Ramaswamy (@VivekGRamaswamy) November 1, 2024
In a pointed exchange, the young woman stated her goal of becoming a criminal defence attorney, noting that African Americans make up only a small percentage of lawyers in the US, Ramaswamy, however, reframed the issue, stating that he believes personal effort, rather than systemic barriers, largely determines success in America. “I believe the number one factor that determines whether you succeed in this country is not your skin colour,” he said. “It is whether or not you actually put in the effort to do what you want.”
When the conversation turned to the topic of discrimination, Ramaswamy suggested that political bias may now play a larger role in professional obstacles than racial discrimination, claiming that supporters of conservative viewpoints, particularly those associated with Donald Trump’s "Make America Great Again" campaign, face discrimination at levels exceeding that of racial bias. He shared an anecdote of an employee allegedly reprimanded for wearing a red sweater, which was perceived as symbolising political allegiance, to illustrate the intolerance he believes is being fostered in some professional environments.
Throughout his campaign, Ramaswamy has consistently challenged the concept of systemic racism , arguing that affirmative action , rather than promoting fairness, inadvertently perpetuates racial divisions. In this exchange, he suggested that affirmative action policies have contributed to a resurgence of anti-Black sentiment, as some individuals assume minorities are granted professional roles due to racial quotas rather than merit. He argued for a “colorblind meritocracy” as the ideal solution to achieving true equality.
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Vivek Ramaswamy calls for 'colorblind meritocracy,' slams 'victim mentality' in tense exchange
