I think there's a mismatch in what we're each trying to convey here. I understand very well how people can struggle through incredible odds and still manage to

I think there's a mismatch in what we're each trying to convey here. I understand very well how people can struggle through incredible odds and still manage to make success for themselves. I think such stories are deeply inspiring, and I likewise hold to a philosophy of never giving in despite the uphill climb you face. But I'm not concerned with personal motivation here, I'm concerned with systemic issues that need to be addressed, and that I believe can be addressed. Personal motivation is a non-sequitur. The idea that if people in a disadvantaged group were just motivated enough they have an equal chance to succeed is trivially false: the entire reason they're considered part of a disadvantaged group is because their chance of good outcomes is statistically lower than other groups. Demotivating factors certainly play a part in this, but the idea that their disadvantage would disappear if they just thought about things the right way is silly in the extreme (not to mention unsupported by data). You usually don't have to dig far to find an actual obstruction to the success of the group. And if we have the capability of removing this obstruction, why wouldn't we?