The Perils Of Affirmative Action Analysis Essay Example
The Perils Of Affirmative Action Analysis Essay Example

The Perils Of Affirmative Action Analysis Essay Example

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  • Pages: 5 (1293 words)
  • Published: June 19, 2016
  • Type: Case Study
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During the early period of this nation, Americans were under British control. However, upon escaping from this oppressive regime, they created a Constitution which firmly emphasized their commitment to the values of liberty, equality, and the pursuit of happiness.

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After the Declaration of Independence was signed and the Constitution was accepted by leaders of the new government, certain American citizens - specifically Negroes and Asians, with a particular focus on their women - did not receive fair treatment.

Introduced in 1961 by President Kennedy, Affirmative Action aimed to address persistent discrimination despite civil rights laws and constitutional guarantees. It replaced the "Temporary Measure

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to Level the Playing Field" by offering equal opportunities for all Americans. Praised and criticized as a means of resolving racial inequality, affirmative action has garnered both accolades and condemnation.

Despite its good intentions, the Affirmative Action plan has revealed flaws in the system with the emergence of "Reverse Racism". An illustrative instance is the "Bakke" case, where a Caucasian male was consistently denied admission for two years in order to prioritize admitting other minorities based on a quota system. This circumstance fosters the belief that Affirmative Action is extremely unfair.

The implementation of racial quotas in college admissions hinders the acceptance of numerous deserving students into prestigious universities. This flaw, among others, has led to a rising discontent with Affirmative Action. Consequently, it has resulted in a scenario where minorities receive opportunities in employment and educatio

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while Caucasians do not. Subsequently, preferential treatment and quotas are now linked with aversion and prejudice.

The violation of the Constitution resulted in the establishment of a significant law aimed at eliminating racism and discrimination, but Affirmative Action ultimately proved ineffective and had negative consequences. Rather than helping the oppressed, it led to them being perceived as less deserving of respect.

Analysis

The Civil Rights Movement served as a wakeup call for America, leading to the acknowledgment of the persistent problem of racism in the nation. The passing of Martin Luther King, Jr. marked a critical moment when the country was ready for substantial transformation.

John F. Kennedy, the first U.S. President following Abraham Lincoln, recommended the end of segregation in the South and sought to improve the situation of African-Americans through significant legislation.

In an effort to eliminate discrimination in the United States, specifically within the government and among its contractors, JFK established the President's Committee on Equal Employment Opportunity by issuing Executive Order 10925.

All federal contracts include a pledge to refuse discrimination based on race, creed, color, or national origin. The JFK administration supported Affirmative Action and encouraged the government to fully adopt the principles of freedom and equality rather than just making superficial declarations. They will have discussions about this issue.

Affirmative Action, which has been criticized for its failure to deliver the civil rights benefits it promised, involves implementing measures that aim to increase the representation of women and minorities in employment, education, and business sectors where they have historically faced exclusion. This viewpoint is supported by Robert Fullinwider of Stanford University.

justify;">Furthermore, there is a law that requires interest groups to legally challenge and pressure companies and employers for adherence. As a result, while certain beneficial effects have been noted, the legislation does not have enough range and effectiveness to bring about substantial societal transformation.

Furthermore, the ineffectiveness of Affirmative Action in addressing racism can be attributed to the racial tension it has produced. According to Fullinwider's article in the Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy, Affirmative Action's use of preferential selection based on ethnicity has intensified the debate surrounding this matter.

The government's efforts to correct previous errors and failures have resulted in a shift towards the opposite extreme. Unfortunately, this impassioned approach is inadvertently resulting in a type of discrimination.

According to Cowan (5), instead of facing discrimination, the current situation shows preferential treatment towards African Americans. This has resulted in various social problems, as some argue that reverse racism has a more harmful impact on society than racism.

According to James Nickel, when individuals who are facing discrimination due to certain morally insignificant characteristics are granted awards based on these characteristics, it suggests that the issue of discrimination remains important. This implies that rather than experiencing discrimination against them, they are now being favored in a discriminatory manner. In conclusion, both scenarios still involve discrimination. (4)

The case of The Regents of the University of California vs. Allan Bakke (Dwokin 103) demonstrated a prominent instance where Affirmative Action backfired. The University of California Davis School of Medicine had introduced an Affirmative Action initiative with the goal of boosting admissions for black students.

Out of the 100 slots available annually,

only 16 were reserved for black and other educationally and economically disadvantaged minorities.

Despite having higher scores than other admitted black students, Allan Bakke competed for the remaining 84 slots but was rejected. He sued the school and the California Court agreed. The school then appealed to the Supreme Court.

The increasing challenge in understanding and accepting Affirmative Action is evident. Even liberals recognize that this approach may lead to unfairness.

In 1986, Wygant noted that African-American employees retained their jobs despite having less experience compared to Caucasian employees who were laid off. More recently, Affirmative Action has been highlighted, including the Supreme Court confirming its legitimacy in higher education in 2003.

The decision is significant as it establishes the foundation for the implementation of Affirmative Action. The 2003 Michigan Cases acknowledged that Affirmative Action aims to promote diversity at all societal levels, thereby serving the Compelling State Interest.

During the analysis of SAT scores in the 1990s, researchers identified a similar situation. Byron Roth's research revealed that admission to prestigious US Colleges required a verbal portion score above 600. However, Roth also uncovered specific information that could potentially pose challenges for supporters of Affirmative Action.

Furthermore, the author addressed the disparities in test scores based on race. Only 2% of black students obtained a score exceeding 600, while 73% of Caucasians reached that threshold. The same pattern was evident in Math scores, with around 3% of black students surpassing 600 compared to 13% of white students (265).

The fairness of Affirmative Action's mandate to allocate slots to minorities is being questioned. Is it merely a recognition for

their hard work? Both Bakke and other Caucasians deserve equal treatment, just like minority groups. Providing preferential treatment solely based on race or membership in marginalized communities is considered unacceptable.

The society's perpetuation of negative stereotypes hampers the progress and resilience development. Taking a stand against discrimination and advocating for equality using appropriate methods is crucial.

The utilization of quotas in employment and academic admissions is a key aspect of Affirmative Action. While these quotas aim to foster fairness, there is evidence contradicting this notion. Paradoxically, individuals who are meant to benefit from Affirmative Action sometimes experience negative consequences.

There is a growing recognition among Jews and Asians that Affirmative Action negatively affects their chances of being admitted to academic programs (Swain 296). This is because the presence of reserved slots for other minority groups implies that not all highly qualified Jews and Asians can be accepted.

Despite the inclusion of Affirmative Action in the United States, it has not effectively addressed the exclusion predicament faced by African-Americans. It is crucial to recognize that the country's population comprises people from various racial backgrounds. The United States is widely known as a melting pot due to its diverse population.

Ensuring equal opportunity for all individuals, regardless of their skin color, is crucial to guarantee fair and unbiased treatment. It should be acknowledged that even Caucasians may face financial barriers when accessing education.

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