Why Is Affirmative Action Such a Divisive Issue?
AFFIRMATIVE ACTION:
WHY IS AFFIRMATIVE ACTION SUCH A DIVISIVE ISSUE?
Affirmative Action: Why is Affirmative Action Such a Divisive Issue?
Introduction
“I have a dream that one day this nation will rise up and live out the true meaning of it’s 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. Is affirmative action still necessary in United States? (Wikipedia, 2007) In order to even begin to understand the underlying principle behind affirmative action, there need to be a clear grasp of what is being discussed. It is important to first define the intentions and the foundation of affirmative action. Affirmative Action is a term that has been applied to many public and private agendas designed to address problems of discrimination or exclusion in employment, education, and contracting. The policies were developed to convert American social justice from an unequal playing field to an equal one. However, they are misguidedly perceived as a tool used to subjugate whites. (Bergman, 1996) In truth, the policies merely constitute a "good faith effort" by employers to eliminate discrimination. These good faith efforts ensure that specific, results-orientated procedures are employed to balance competing interests and make certain efforts are put forth to provide equal access in educational and work field for all people. The efforts were positive steps to end discrimination, so that every qualified women and minorities have a fair chance at job, educational and business opportunities. When those steps involve preferential selection, which is selection on the basis of race, gender, or ethnicity than affirmative action generates intense controversy. (Bergman, 1996) Affirmative action programs for minorities and women are a very small part of U.S. preferential policies. College draft deferments, selective
WHY IS AFFIRMATIVE ACTION SUCH A DIVISIVE ISSUE?
Affirmative Action: Why is Affirmative Action Such a Divisive Issue?
Introduction
“I have a dream that one day this nation will rise up and live out the true meaning of it’s 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. Is affirmative action still necessary in United States? (Wikipedia, 2007) In order to even begin to understand the underlying principle behind affirmative action, there need to be a clear grasp of what is being discussed. It is important to first define the intentions and the foundation of affirmative action. Affirmative Action is a term that has been applied to many public and private agendas designed to address problems of discrimination or exclusion in employment, education, and contracting. The policies were developed to convert American social justice from an unequal playing field to an equal one. However, they are misguidedly perceived as a tool used to subjugate whites. (Bergman, 1996) In truth, the policies merely constitute a "good faith effort" by employers to eliminate discrimination. These good faith efforts ensure that specific, results-orientated procedures are employed to balance competing interests and make certain efforts are put forth to provide equal access in educational and work field for all people. The efforts were positive steps to end discrimination, so that every qualified women and minorities have a fair chance at job, educational and business opportunities. When those steps involve preferential selection, which is selection on the basis of race, gender, or ethnicity than affirmative action generates intense controversy. (Bergman, 1996) Affirmative action programs for minorities and women are a very small part of U.S. preferential policies. College draft deferments, selective
Cited: Affirmative Action, (2007), obtained from http://en.wikipedia.org Bergman, Barbara R. (1996). In Defense of Affirmative Action. Basic Books. Butler, Judith (1996). An Affirmative View. Representations, No. 55, Special Issue: Race and Representation: Affirmative Action, pp. 74-83. Clayton, Mark. (2003). One University’s Case for Race. The Christian Science Monitor. Fish, Stanley. (2000). The Nine Nifty Arguments Against Affirmative Action in Higher Education. The Journal of Blacks in Higher Education, no. 27, pp. 79-81. Gallup Poll, June 2003, obtained from http://www.pollingreport.com/race.htm Hanmer, Trudy J. (1993). Affirmative Action: Opportunity for All. New Jersey: Enslow. Katznelson, Ira (2005). How Aid Became Affirmative Action for Whites. The Washington Post Company, Page A23. The Gallup Poll. (2005) Gender Differences in Views of Job Opportunity. Princeton: The Gallup Organization, obtained from http://poll.gallup.com/content/default.aspx?ci=17614 U.S. Department of Labor (2002). Facts on Executive Order 11246. Affirmative Action, obtained from http://www.dol.gov/esa/regs/compliance/ofccp/aa.htm