Affirmative Action and Capital Punishment

Our Constitution and our Declaration of Independence were based on the idea that all men are created equal. What this really meant then and means even more today is that all men should have equal opportunity for life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness. Affirmative Action is the one sure legal means to make that possible for everyone, regardless of race, religion or gender. ""Affirmative Action is a policy designed to create a nondiscriminatory environment for the management of human resources and the distribution of economic benefits...It means taking a second look to be fair to everyone who applies for a job or admission to college." (Anderson PG).

Unfortunately, these children cannot complete their education because they have to travel with their family and learn to manage at a young age a life of hard labor. This however does not diminish their dreams of completing high school and some day attending a university so that they will not have to live the life of struggle their parents did to sustain the household. In cities like Detroit, MI there is a large population of low income Hispanic and African American families. The public school system unfortunately cannot potentially promote a high-quality education. The majority of these students do not receive an entrance level education simply because of living standards. Income plays an important role in education opportunities regarding the quality education each student can pertain. Since the minorities in that area are low-income they cannot afford to attend a private high school that can better prepare them for college. According to a research done at the University of Texas-Pan American, “certain racial or ethnicity factors should play a role in the admissions decision.” (Marklein)

Affirmative action should be abolished because the negatives from the program far outweigh the positives. The program is doing a lot of harm to American society instead of helping.

Politically speaking, the United States is a country founded on the principles of equality, one that strives to ensure that all its citizens are treated equally and have equal opportunities. Despite all of this, the United States is not predicated on equal outcomes and, as such, some people will naturally rise while others fall. To some, this may seem unfair, but the truth is that, guaranteeing equal outcomes for all people, would severely undermine the foundation on which the United States was built while also threatening its democracy since, to guarantee equal outcomes, some overriding governmental body would have to take the necessary steps to do so. Since affirmative action is a step toward guaranteeing equal outcomes – even when these outcomes should not be equal – it should be prohibited from having any place in the college admissions process. Instead, there should be more emphasis on guaranteeing equal opportunity, and this can be done by “strengthening public education…we must make certain that every child in public school can learn as much and go as far as his or her talents permit” (Summer, 2012, p. 3). Strengthening public education so that the standards are higher and there is a more rigorous curriculum would lift everybody up equally, and would therefore be more in step with American’s democratic ideals than admitting students into college simply based on

I also believe that HBCUs are a better alternative to affirmative action. These institutions have the capacity to attract and motivate many young black people, to advance their education. By seeing people just like them, with similar backgrounds and similar interest making great achievements, it provides those young black people with a pride and a sense of empowerment. This is most effective in the poorer neighborhoods where morale is low. It is true that HBCUs enroll students with the lowest test scores in American education; according to Elias Blake Jr. in the article from Emerge, "Black colleges are still enrolling a majority of the most vulnerable students that have the lowest income and the lowest test scores…" (par. 7). Studies show that in many disadvantaged communities, the quality of education is not up to par with the quality in the wealthier communities. Therefore, those in these poorer communities are at a disadvantage. But from the statistics on the amount on the amount of successful African-Americans who graduate from these historically black institutions, something right must be occurring. I believe that these HBCUs are an ideal environment for these students as they place these "under-achieving" students in an environment which they are comfortable, and allows them the ability to develop their skills. In the end, most of

Generations of families have suffered due unequal laws or prejudices set in place to prevent minorities from growing. Slavery, segregation, separate but equal laws, the trail of tears, failing ESOL classes, unequal pay and so much more effect today's youth and causing history to change slowly if at all. Affirmative action has good intentions and is very much needed in today's world however it sometimes fails doing what it was created to do.

Is affirmative action in higher education needed? This question provokes a myriad of emotions. Is affirmative action antiquated and unneeded in 21st century America? Or are the racial boundaries of this country’s ancestors still in effect? America’s Declaration of Independence states, “all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness,” yet quotas, check marks, and plus factors give minority students advantages in the admission processes of the country’s universities and colleges (NARA).

Affirmative action policies are passionately debated by everyone from educators and politicians to ordinary citizens, all who hold differing opinions on both the necessity and validity of the policies. There is no doubt affirmative action is an emotional topic and deals with the

In this area both minorities and non-minorities are discriminated against, when affirmative action was in use the admissions board was divided into two groups one for minorities and another for non-minorities, standards for both groups were different. Once again affirmative action is showing favoritism. A recent example of affirmative action in collegiate admissions includes Gratz and Hamacher vs. University of Michigan. Gratz and Hamacher alleged that unlawful preference to minorities in University of Michigan undergraduate admissions. This also reminds me of when I was a senior in high school, several black colleges wanted me to come to there school to play football on a scholarship. What they did not tell me was that I would receive a minority scholarship not a football scholarship. Basically they found a loophole; they could recruit white players and give them minority scholarships and still have the same number of football scholarships to give out. They were getting a two for one deal by improving their number of minority (white students) students and getting football players at the same time.

The liberal view on affirmative action is that it is necessary. Due to prevalent racism in the past, minorities were deprived of the same education and employment opportunities as whites. We need to make up for that. Minorities still lag behind whites in all statistical measurements of success. It is sad that companies, schools, etc. need to be told to admit people of different races in as well as white people, but sadly America is still a racist society. Of course not every company or school is this way but too many are to have affirmative action taken out at this time. Also, the presence of minorities creates diversity.

On face value, affirmative action accomplishes its’ goals of helping minorities attain opportunities that were once blocked, or still would be blocked due to gender bias, racial discrimination and other injustices. So in that sense, I applaud the policy, because it adequately provides “equality of opportunity”. Personally, I am for affirmative action, but I do not want to benefit from it at all. As contradictory as this sound, I have my reasons as to why personally hold this belief.

When it comes to Affirmative Action Liberals believe it is crucial and is a mandatory policy to help achieve a balance and fair society within our country. Due to previous history of racism, minorities have been deprived of identical opportunities as whites. They are still challenged when it comes to equal jobs, equal education, and equal benefits of society. Liberals claim that it is the government’s responsibility to make up for that. It is undeniable that there is still racism in our society today, and that is why affirmative action

Affirmative action is an action or policy favoring those who tend to suffer from discrimination, especially in relation to employment or education; positive discrimination. I agree with it, because it will let everyone be equal, having the same level and no one will be treated superior or inferior. for example, if we get to the women their rights to be treated as men so all be equal then it will be no more prejudice, because we will not have any more dominant or subordinate

Although it is not the 40 acres and a mule that was promised, it is a start that has led many black leaders to be who they are now. Affirmative Action has given blacks opportunities that may have never been available without its help. This does not amount to all the things that were done to our ancestor. However, it is something we should be appreciative for. In the article “Views on Affirmative Action” by Clarence Thomas he talked about how merit and induvial contact and how no one should be rewarded or punish because of group characteristics (Gates and Burton 935). I do agree with Thomas on this statement we should be able to prove that we are just as good as the white’s. However, if we can get the help why not take advantage of it. What I mean by take advantage of is use the color of your skin to be great in the working world. There are so many wonderful doors that have opened to blacks, since President Kennedy mandated this policy. As blacks, we have advanced in the working world and I think that we have come a long way. Why would we want to take something away that is only trying to make us better? It may not feel right to be judged by race but if that what it takes for minority to have a chance than I think it’s best that we keep sticking with

A major controversy encompassing the country is the issue of affirmative action. Many believe that the abolition, or at least restructure, of affirmative action in the United States will benefit the nation for many logical reasons. Originally, affirmative action began as an attempt to eliminate discrimination and provide a source of opportunity; affirmative action did not begin as an attempt to support just minorities and women. In addition, affirmative action naturally creates resentment when the less qualified are preferred instead of the people actually deserve the admission or job. Another reason that has existed since the abolition of slavery is the myth that women and ?minorities? cannot compete