A non-profit group has launched a college scholarship for a demographic it claims are under-represented in society - white men.The Former Majority Association for Equality will give grants of $500 to any man from Texas who is at least ‘25 per cent Caucasian’, has good grades and can demonstrate they are in need.
Its founder Colby Bohannan claims whites feel ‘excluded’ when they apply to college and that they are ‘left out’ when it comes to funding.
The provocative move risks a backlash by anti-racism groups but college officials in Texas have said there is little they can do to prevent it.
Mr Bohannan, a former Texas State University student and Iraq veteran, said the group was named because of the idea that ‘if you're not a male, and if you're not white, you're called a minority’.
‘I'm not sure white males are the majority any more,’ he said. ‘If everyone else can find scholarships, why are we left out?’
He added that the group is not taking a stance on affirmative action and has denounced racism.
‘It's time in our society to look at the way our culture views race,’ he said. ‘It's time to give everyone an equal shot.’
FMAFE plans to offer four $500 scholarships to any college, inside Texas or outside the state, for the forthcoming academic year.
So far it has raised more than $1,600.
It is not clear how the percentage of ‘whiteness’ will be evaluated but the group’s officers say they will consider each applicant carefully.
On its website FMAFE claims its goal is: ‘To financially assist young Americans seeking higher education who lack opportunities in similar organisations that are based upon race or gender.
‘In a country that proclaims equality for all, we provide monetary aid to those that have found the scholarship application process difficult because they do not fit into certain categories or any ethnic group,’ it says.
It adds that they do ‘not want to appear racist or racially motivated’ and that they will not accept any donations from hate groups.
Mr Bohannan said: 'The toughest obstacles to getting this organisation off the ground seem to be not appearing racially motivated, and getting taken seriously.
'The board members of FMAFE are not trying to put anyone down or make any race or cultures seem inferior.'
Despite the apparently wild claims Bohannan may actually be correct - Hispanics accounted for two-thirds of the population growth over the past decade in Texas.
Non-Hispanic whites now make up about 45 per cent of residents.
The scholarship has already touched off a heated debate in Texas and on the Texas State University student newspaper opinion was divided.
About-time wrote: ‘This is awesome! Its about time people realize that white people deserve help too. Its not just minorities who struggle’.
They can't be struggling. They're white!
Armset11 however said: ‘Great..yet another scholarship fund that discriminates based on race.’
William Lake, FMAFE’s treasurer, said: ‘There's a scholarship out there for just about any demographic, except this one.
‘We realise it's for good reason - this is a touchy subject.’
I'm thinking this is popcorn-worthy.