Affirmative Action Still Necessary in America?
"I have a dream that one day this nation will rise up and live out the true meaning of its creed: " We hold these truths to be self-evident: that all men are created equal." - Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Dr. King stated this in his famous " I have a Dream" speech in Washington, D.C. in 1963. (King) Is affirmative action still necessary in America? Affirmative action is still necessary because America does not have enough equality and diversity. There are two definitions of affirmative action: 1) race-neutral, gender-neutral assurance against actual discrimination and 2) racial-preferences and gender-preferences for the correct races and genders. (Definition: Affirmative Action) Most Americans associate affirmative action with the second definition, causing much controversy. However, the true and intended meaning of affirmative action is the first one. Affirmative action is still essential in America because Americans do not have sufficient equality and diversity in the workforce and universities. First, affirmative action is still necessary because of lack of equality. White males typically earn significantly more than women and minorities. According to the National Committee on Pay Equity, women, overall, make 71 cents as compared to a man 's dollar. While minority men make more than non-minority and minority women, non-minority males make about $ 9,000 more than minority men, $ 14,000 more than non-minority women, and $ 17,000 more than minority women in white collar occupations, according to the Federal Civilian Workforce. (Feminist Majority Foundation) Without the aid of affirmative action, women and minorities will continue to fall behind in the workforce. Affirmative action is still necessary in order to insure equality among white men, women, and minorities. By using affirmative action, that is race-neutral and gender-neutral assurance against discrimination, we can live up to our country 's statement that all men are created
Cited: Definition: Affirmative Action. september 2009. web. 19 july 2012. Feminist Majority Foundation. 12 Febuary 2012. web. 17 july 2012. Fulllinder, Robert. "Affirmative Action." Stanford Journal of Philosophy march 2010. King, martin Luther Jr. The Peaceful Warrior. New York, 1968. print. Mazzocco, Philip J., Lyndsee W. Cooper, and Mariagrace Flint. n.d.