Essay on Affirmative Action and Racial Equality - 1467 Words

Affirmative Action and Racial Equality (1) Issue Identification Many individuals do not know the meaning of the term â€Å"affirmative action.† In order to clearly understand the issue, one must first know the necessary terms associated with it. Affirmative action is a term given to an action or policy favoring those who tend to suffer from discrimination (i.e. African Americans, Asians, etc.). For example, certain scholarships for African Americans can be regarded as affirmative action opportunities. Another example of affirmative action could be an institutional program designed for African Americans. So why is it important? Affirmative action policies and programs are designed to insure that qualified individuals of minority groups†¦show more content†¦No matter what skin color people have, people share similar dreams. With affirmative action, we have come a long way. However, we still see a strong need for it as discrimination still exists everywhere. (2) Evolution of the Controversy Furthermore, the root of affirmative action in the quest to promote equality can date back all the ways to 1961. In 1961, racism and discrimination were evident all throughout the United States. However in 1961, President John F. Kennedy first introduced the concept of affirmative action in executive order 10925. Later, it was enforced by President Lyndon Johnson in 1965 as he issued executive order 11246 which gave the Secretary of Labor responsibility for administration and enforcement of the order mandating that contractors not discriminate against any employees or qualified applicants because of race, color, religion, sex or national origin. Later, in 1967, he even amended it to include gender! President Johnson clearly saw the issue of discrimination in the work place and in the education system as he stated â€Å"this is the next and more preferred stage for the battle of civil rights† (Affirmative Action). Many would not make the argument discrimination did not exist in the time of President Johnson. However, many overlook the fact that it still exists today and how we still need affirmative action. Wouldn’t you find it extremely upsettingShow Mo reRelatedAffirmative Action : Racial Equality938 Words   |  4 PagesStephany Rodriguez Jeannie Daugherty College English January 21, 2015 Affirmative Action: Racial Equality As a senior in high school, college becomes more of a reality to me- meaning the hunt for the perfect university is approaching...fast. But, the real question is, what do I look for when it comes to my dream college? To my surprise, it’s not the typical campus size issue, but rather it was racial diversity. The bottom line is, I do not want to be placed in a class where I am surrounded byRead MoreArgumentative Essay - Affirmative Action1148 Words   |  5 Pagessocial policy known as affirmative action, the answer becomes unclear. Affirmative action is a product of the civil rights era, that time from the late 1950s through the 1960s when African Americans fought to live as equal citizens in the country of their birth (Maltz, Leora, 2005). After the United States Congress passed the Civil Rights Act in 1964, it became apparent that certain business traditions, such as seniority status and aptitude tests, prevented total equality in employment. PresidentRead MoreEssay on We Still Need Affirmative Action512 Words   |  3 Pagesmovement shifted from the traditional aim of equality of opportunity through nondiscrimination alone to affirmative action to establish ‘goals and timetables’ to achieve absolute equality between blacks and whites† (Dye 253). These goals and timetables were cemented with Executive Order No. 11246, issued by President Lyndon B. Johnson in 1965. This order is commonly referred to as the foundation for modern-day affirmative action programs. Today, affirmative action is a very controversial subject, withRead MoreThe Debate over Affirmative Action1307 Words   |  5 Pagesdebate over affirmative action. Although the United States has made great strides in improving race relations over the past forty years, affirmative action continues to be one of the most controversial policies in America. It has rattle the halls of higher education. It has appeared on the steps of the Supreme Court. And it has divided not o nly different racial groups, but even members of a single racial group. In fact, I’ve heard some of the most heated conversation over affirmative action between twoRead MoreAfrican Americans And The Civil War1309 Words   |  6 Pageseffects of racism dating back even before the Civil War. One of the fruition of these attempts is Affirmative Action, which was initially enforced â€Å"to ensure equality in hiring† among minorities. Later, Affirmative Action was amended to include education under its protection. Throughout its duration, however, it has alleviated the racial tension unsubstantially. Affirmative Action’s attempt to halt the racial disparities in higher education that has burdened the African Americans constitutes an inconsequentialRead MoreRacial Discrimination : The Worst Form Of Inequality1388 Words   |  6 Pagesis to try to make unequal things equal.† Racial discrimination occurs everyday to many different people. In America,the individuals who are usually discriminated against are the minorities like African Americans and Hispanics. Affirmative action is a policy that was created and has been claimed to be positive discrimination. The policy was created to give equal opportunity to groups of people who are usually discriminated against. Although Affirmative action has been named to be positive and supportRead MoreWe Do NOT Need Affirmative Action Essay549 Words   |  3 Pages    Affirmative Action is steps that are taken to ensure that the opportunities are equal between minorities and others. There have been many heated debates over this issue, and maybe the worst is yet to come. Some might feel it is necessary because they feel opportunities are not equal for minorities. Many people believe that gaps need to be closed between minorities and others, but there is a difference in the method. I feel the current method is not constitutional, lawful, and not provenRead MoreAffirmative Action : How It Impacted The American Society Essay1628 Words   |  7 PagesAbstract There are many supporters and opponents of Affirmative Action. The focus of Affirmative action is meant to be an attempt at equality throughout society. Every sector in America would be equal and unprejudiced. On the other hand, adopting affirmative action would force many employers to replace hard-working employees with those possibly less qualified simply due to their gender or ethnicity. Throughout history, people have been categorized into different groups. These groupings were basedRead MoreAffirmative Action: Equality for All? Essay1741 Words   |  7 PagesAffirmative Action: Equality for All? Affirmative action in the United States has become a misused and misguided practice in modern times. In the current form of affirmative action, it is impossible to create a truly equal society. It was originally used as an equal opportunity measure to allow qualified minorities into positions they were denied because of race. However, affirmative action has become a system of racial quotas that lowers standards for minority applicants in order to give them