Affirmative Action Essay

Two more cases that aroused much debate on the issue were the 2003 cases of Gratz vs. Bollinger and Grutter vs. Bollinger, in which two more-than-qualified students applied to the University of Michigan and were denied due to acceptance policies. The two women, Jennifer Gratz and Barbara Grutter, took their cases to the Supreme Court with the plea that the University of Michigan is “treating people differently based on skin color, and that is unconstitutional” (Mears). The university openly stated that they have a point system in their acceptance process in which students receive extra point if they are of minority status. Mary Sue Coleman, the president of the University of Michigan stated, “[W]e

Among the citizens of America affirmative action is a sensitive subject with some seeing it as a necessity to help those who have been repressed and others seeing it as reverse racism. Many Americans may also be conflicted about affirmative action, because it is such a complex issue. People fervently debate affirmative action, because it is a complex issue revolving around one’s own race, experiences, and desires.

Affirmative Action is any effort taken to expand opportunity for women or racial, ethnic and national origin minorities by using membership in those groups that have been subject to discrimination as a consideration. The Fourteenth Amendment states that no person in the United States shall, on the ground of race, color, or national origin, be excluded from participation in, be denied the benefits of, or be subjected to discrimination under any program or activity receiving Federal financial assistance. As a result, Affirmative action is not consistent with the Fourteenth Amendment. In this essay, I will first discuss the violation of Affirmative Action against the Fourteenth Amendment. Second, how Affirmative Action helps one group of

Every year, millions of students apply to colleges and universities in the United States. The status of their application, whether they get accepted to or rejected by the school of their dreams, may ultimately be determined by two words: affirmative action. The Merriam-Webster dictionary defines affirmative action as an effort to correct past injustices, means to right the wrongs of the past, positive steps to correct past discrimination (Affirmative 1). However, for those exceedingly qualified members of a majority group who do not get accepted while less qualified minority members do, affirmative action begins to insinuate reverse discrimination, the unfair treatment of members of majority groups resulting from preferential policies, as in college admissions or employment, intended to remedy earlier discrimination against minorities (Reverse 1). Affirmative action is a topic of contention that has been disputed in the court systems for roughly four decades. It is now time that affirmative action in college admissions be abolished because it erroneously implies that diversity is more imperative than merit and unjustifiably discriminates

The dilemma of affirmative action is defining equal opportunities especially to those ethnicity who were historically wronged.The famous U.S landmark case Regents of the University of California v. Bakke (1978), in which Allan Bakke, a white man, was twice rejected to University of California Medical School at Davis, ruled that racial quotas “violated the Equal Protection Clause of the 14th Amendment”, however race can serve a part as one of an admission criteria. Today California has banned

Because economic, social, gender and racial inequalities exist within the American population, it is in the best interest of its people and government to take action to amend these problems. Since the U.S has a capitalistic based economy, there is little that the government can do to completely end all inequalities. However, it can try to remedy racial and gender discrimination. The most realistic and supported program is Affirmative Action, which has many key issues: does the government have the right to enforce “reverse discrimination” or is it right to take race or gender into account for purposes of diversity and equality when evaluating college or job applications?

Institutions or organization that choose to utilize Affirmative action were given special tax incentives for hiring or admitting minorities. However, since this policies creation the increased opportunity for minorities has turned into discrimination of others. “What has happened is that if an employer has two possible job candidates, one is a Caucasian male; the other is a black female. Affirmative action policies prefer the black woman to be hired over the Caucasian male, even if the woman is less qualified for the job. Resulting from this is that the employer may not have the qualified employee he needs, and the well qualified man will not have the job he is qualified for and also needs” (Connell, n.d). Some may scoff at such a situation because it diversifies the workforce, feeling a sense of retribution for historical atrocities like slavery. Yet, it clearly shows that affirmative action causes institutions to make decisions based on race. This is no different than a segregationist denying the right of an African-American to attend a public school, where there admission was also chosen on

After you graduate from college, you will be putting in your application for a job that you went to college for. Even though you might be the most qualified for the job you still might not obtain the position. Affirmative Action sometimes causes this because companies have to hire a certain number of minorities relative to the size of the company. This means that if there are no minority citizens available, immigrants who aren’t even US citizens can take the position. This is why Affirmative Action should be readjusted, because it is helping immigrants instead of the people it was meant for, American citizens.

It is argued that actions similar to these result in a loss of self-esteem in minorities. Jeffrey gives an example of a Native American high school student who was offered a minority college scholarship, but turned it down because it was not based on merit. Those who oppose affirmative action say stories similar to this one hurt minority’s self-esteem because to tell minorities that the bar must be lowered for them in order to succeed is to tell them that they are not capable of making it on their own (Jacoby A21). Affirmative action opponents state that the best minority is chosen and not the best candidate for the position (Jacoby A21).

Affirmative Action has been an issue of contention since its inception during the Civil Rights struggles of mid 20th century America. Discrimination could no longer be tolerated and the Unites States government had an obligation to encourage equality at all levels of the social infrastructure. The main type of discrimination being addressed by Affirmative Action programs was racial discrimination. The Merriam Webster dictionary defines racism as: ‘a belief that race is the primary determinant of human traits and capacities and that racial differences produce an inherent superiority of a particular race.’ The Civil Rights Act of 1964, which prohibited discrimination of any kind, laid the foundation for the introduction of Affirmative Action

Two hundred years ago in America, being born of a certain race or gender predetermined one’s opportunities in life. African Americans were subjected to slavery and discrimination and women had very little liberty. In the present, the United States is much closer to equality, yet gender and race still play a role in life’s opportunities given the high frequency of affirmative action programs; they attempt to increase the representation of minorities on college campuses and in the office, regardless of virtue. Programs of affirmative action arouse controversy because some groups view affirmative action as a catalyst for reverse discrimination whilst other groups support affirmative action as a way to diversify society and compensate for past

The Webster dictionary defines affirmative action as an “active effort to improve the employment or educational opportunities of members of minority groups…” This paper will discuss the history of affirmative action and its effects on education and the work force in our society. I will argue why affirmative action is necessary for minorities to gain equal opportunities educationally and economically and how affirmative action is morally required as reparation for past discrimination. I will also discuss why many people believe that affirmative action is a step in the wrong direction and point out several arguments as to why we should get rid of affirmative action and try to validate their claims.

In 1961 John F Kennedy had the idea that affirmative action could help people that were still being discriminated against despite the civil rights laws. But affirmative action didn’t become enforced until President Johnson was in the white house. The government hoped to make up for the discriminations, by giving minorities a better chance of getting work. It was introduced to enforce the civil right laws. Affirmative action was meant to be a temporary solution to give a back stand so other minorities have the same opportunities. Affirmative action was a great idea in the beginning, but as early as the 1970’s there have been cases of reverse discrimination. Here are two examples of negative and positive affirmative action cases. McDonald vs.

Affirmative action does not have any real benefits; on the contrary, it is detrimental to both minorities and students who would be passed over in favor of minorities. It runs contrary to the spirit of different treatment based on race. Any system where employees or students are selected based on race, and not qualifications, is deficient. All college and hiring criteria should be based solely on academic achievement, not any kind of racial preference. There are 3 major institutions that affirmative action must be addressed in: college, the private work sector, and government.

employed, and it would only be natural for them to become bitter and resent the minority