I was poor and Black. Affirmative action got me to West Point and beyond. | Opinion

UNC ruling

I’m a 56-year-old African American math teacher at St. Timothy’s School in Raleigh. Affirmative action gave me, a poor kid, an opportunity to compete at top institutions, like West Point where I graduated.

I was the youngest of eight children born to a single parent, with no money for college. My public East St. Louis high school prepared us, but had no Advanced Placement courses, no lacrosse, no swim team, no ACT/SAT prep.

At West Point, I made the dean’s list. Had admissions not considered that I had no access to things like AP courses, sports, ACT/SAT tutoring, my application would’ve been in the trash.

Affirmative action allowed consideration of what I’d done with what I’d had access to. Without it, I would not be a West Point grad, Army officer, math teacher or sent a son to West Point who was deployed to Afghanistan or a daughter to Wellesley College, UNC Law School and Duke University’s Public Policy program.

Affirmative action gave me a level playing field. The sweat, tears and hard work, with God’s help, I had to provide.

Melynda Foye, Cary

Moore’s affair

The writer served in the N.C. Senate 1997-2013.

When I was in the N.C. Senate, I introduced a bill in 2001 to remove alienation of affection and “criminal conversation” (an 18th century term for adultery) from our laws. Then-prominent Sen. Fountain Odom strongly objected, arguing the lawsuit protected families.

As we watch the unseemly case against House Speaker Tim Moore, we have to ask how this is protecting any children involved who must endure seeing their families dragged through the mud.

Ellie Kinnaird, Chapel Hill

Southpoint mall

The owners of The Streets at Southpoint mall have plans to expand the mall offerings to more than just shopping. Office, apartment and hotel additions are being proposed and require a zoning change. However, the thorny question of affordable housing is also in the mix.

The mall’s owner, Brookfield Properties, has a solution. They are offering a $1 million donation to Durham’s housing fund. That is a start, but the donation needs to be more substantial.

Deborah Brogden, Durham

Waste and fraud

Regarding “Red flags and signs of fraud in NC school voucher program,” (June 29 Opinion):

Those Opportunity Scholarships are an opportunity to take taxes from hard-working N.C. families and put that money in the pockets of the religious and wealthy. There appears to be insufficient oversight of the transfer of tax dollars to these schools and it will get worse if the Republican majority has its way. Separation of church and state? Not here.

Janice Woychik, Chapel Hill

Voting rights

The N.C. legislature is methodically dismantling citizen voting rights. Two major elections bills would restrict time limits for voting by mail and restrict same-day registration, both changes would obstruct the ability to vote.

The right to vote and have your vote counted are fundamental elements of a free society. I am alarmed by proposals to further restrict voting by mail, limit “on campus” voting and more. When we lose easy voting access, we lose a fundamental right of a free society.

Linda A. Naylor, Chapel Hill

Wetlands

Regarding “House overrides Cooper vetoes on finance, environment bills,” (June 29):

The Republican majority in the N.C. legislature has put 2.5 million acres of wetlands in jeopardy.

Even though some N.C. wetlands are not connected to a body of water they serve important purposes. They harbor a wide variety of wildlife and plant life that helps keep natural systems in balance. They help recharge groundwater and filter out pollutants.

Groundwater levels will become even more critical as the climate warms, resulting in droughts that may occur on a more regular basis. As groundwater levels drop, so will the flows of surface waters.

I never cease to be amazed at the anti-science, know-nothing and ideological approach many of our legislators have taken toward environmental protection. This legislative act amounts to nothing more than self-destructive stupidity.

Robert Mulder, Raleigh

Wildfire smoke

With the passage of the Inflation Reduction Act and the urgent need for climate solutions, now is the time for the North Carolina Utilities Commission to step up and rapidly move the state forward toward clean energy and away from fossil fuels.

We’ve recently seen the effects of smoke and poor air quality from the wildfires in Canada. My husband and I are seniors. He had to limit his time in the garden and we weren’t able to walk outside. Summer is only getting started and I fear for the heatwaves and fires ahead.

Now is the time to take bold action. We have access to new resources to take big steps forward into a clean energy future. Let’s not miss the opportunity. North Carolina Utilities Commission, are you listening?

Vickie Atkinson, Chapel Hill

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Clarification: A June 25 letter did not make clear that letter writer David McGowan is Southeast Region Director of the American Petroleum Institute.

This story was originally published July 2, 2023 at 5:30 AM with the headline "I was poor and Black. Affirmative action got me to West Point and beyond. | Opinion."