Street Talk [6-26] 

Question: What’s your reaction to the Supreme Court ruling that race can be used as a criterion in university admissions?

Jackie Trejo, Miami Beach, massage therapist, 48 

“I always felt the whole issue is very complex. Not that there isn’t a right or wrong to it, but it’s complex. If the schools on the lower level were more equal academically it might be different. On the whole, affirmative action is a good thing, but it’s not a dead issue. We’ll be going through this for some time until people of different sexes or races feel they have an equal opportunity.”

Martin Rodrigue, Miami Beach, chef, 36 

“I have no opinion on the decision because I’m learning about it from you. It’s an issue that I wasn’t following. In general, I feel that affirmative action is great. Anything that increases diversity, whether racial or sexual, is a plus. A few years ago there wouldn’t even have been this discussion. It’s progress. It educates people and expands their horizons. It’s like Miami: it’s a plus that we have so many different cultures.”

Carolina Sardi, Miami Beach, sculptor, 35 

“Basically, all I know is that by 5 to 4 they voted yes to affirmative action and I agree with that. Because this is a country of diversity. We have to encourage diversity everywhere and give opportunities to minorities. Affirmative action is fine. We do have to make sure about people’s qualifications, but it’s important to give opportunities to minorities who don’t have the same advantages.”

Guy Abruzzo, Miami Beach, bar business, 71 

“I think it was really a wash. They didn’t deal with it properly. It has to be one way or the other. If we’re ever going to unite as a people, it’s important that people are qualified and there’s equality of opportunity. If someone going for a job has worked harder for it and is more qualified, he should get it. Why work so hard to be qualified if someone else is going to get it on the basis of color or something else.”

Enrique Arcaute, Miami Beach, boat captain, 30 

“Being Hispanic I have to think that anything that helps minorities is good in general. But I also believe that if you don’t deserve it you shouldn’t get in.  I know when I worked for the county affirmative action was unpopular among employees because it was seen that qualified people, me being one of them, were overlooked for promotions they deserved that were given to less qualified applicants.” 

(photos & interviews by Tony Guzman)