...then follows it with complete dismissal of their opportunity cost and our loss of their productivity. Which is what I addressed, because it undermined what seemed to be an otherwise decent statement.
1. We should correct the wrongs that we have inflicted upon African-Americans in the past, including opportunity costs.
2. We should also recognize that making an investment in all people is a net benefit for our society
I don't know how to make it any clearer than that.
The disparity of benefits provided by the GI bill yielded exactly a modern racial disparity. I think you and OP are on the short side of explaining why such an overtly racist event can be described as a net benefit. The sentiment that you believe it should be better does have any weight in this context.
> Absolutely. African Americans were excluded from its benefits by a viciously racist society. We should rectify that today.