"Affirmative Action." Current Issues: Macmillian Social Science Library. Detroit: Gale, 2010. Gale Opposing Viewpoints In Context. Web. 5 Oct. 2010.
This article I read got me very pumped about the issue of Affirmative Action. I learned many new ideas through this article and I would like to share. This article provided many valid points about affirmative action. The article mentions its history, where it's used, why it's used, and pros and cons of affirmative action on a neutral basis. This article did not lean to one side or the other.
To begin, Affirmative Action is a practice that provides members of minority groups and women greater opportunities in employment, education, housing, and other areas of life. The reasoning behind such practice is to make up for past discrimination of minorities in the workplace, schools and othere areas of life. Since African Americans were not worthy of being treated equal in the eyes of whites for nearly a century, affirmative action programs were built to help bring back equality to minorities for ancestry discrimination (an example of this is Jim Crow laws). Not only were African Americans faced with discrimination but women, homosexuals, Jews and many other underrepresented groups as well. That is why in today's society, these groups have a better advantage over other goups [white males] in many aspects of life.
Each year, many majorites are skipped an opportunity of education or employment because certain employers and admissions for colleges or universities are supporters of Affirmative Action. Many schools and government jobs have to meet a certain quotas. In other words, the minimum levels of required minority participation. For example, some affirmative action programs specify that a certain percentage of jobs, promotions, or positions must be reserved for minorities. In some cases, even if the minoritites are under-qualified, they still are offered the opportunities over the qualified participants.
There is still a big debate of the overall effect of Affirmative Action programs. Supporters of Affirmative Action believe that these programs are a neccessary step in achieving equality to the underrepresented groups in society that faced discrimination in the past. They believe that affirmative action programs are essential to black progress. On the other hand, critics of affirmative action programs argue that individuals should compete based on their ability, not based on race, sex, national origin, sexual orientation and so on. Supporters argue by stating that AA programs are in place to ensure the elimination of discrimination. Then, opposers argue that AA programs aren't putting an end to discrimination, but only making "reverse discrimination". Many believe that Affirmative Action programs are putting punishment on white males for the actions of their ancestors. Other critics argue that blacks aren't capable of competing with whites on an equal basis.
Many court cases have shown perfect examples of majorities denied opportunities because certain schools and employments take race into consideration when deciding who to chose. For example: Fisher vs. Texas was a court case about a young lady applicant that sued the University of Texas at Austin claiming that she was rejected because of the university's admission policy that allowed the school to consider race in its admission decisions.
In conclusion, this article provides facts about Affirmative Action programs and is very nuetral based- meaning it doesn't argue either side. However, I do not support Affirmative Action programs. I believe that these programs only causes reverse discrimination and do not give people equal opportunites. Certain groups should not be "punished" for the mistakes that were made by their ancestors.
Each year, many majorites are skipped an opportunity of education or employment because certain employers and admissions for colleges or universities are supporters of Affirmative Action. Many schools and government jobs have to meet a certain quotas. In other words, the minimum levels of required minority participation. For example, some affirmative action programs specify that a certain percentage of jobs, promotions, or positions must be reserved for minorities. In some cases, even if the minoritites are under-qualified, they still are offered the opportunities over the qualified participants.
There is still a big debate of the overall effect of Affirmative Action programs. Supporters of Affirmative Action believe that these programs are a neccessary step in achieving equality to the underrepresented groups in society that faced discrimination in the past. They believe that affirmative action programs are essential to black progress. On the other hand, critics of affirmative action programs argue that individuals should compete based on their ability, not based on race, sex, national origin, sexual orientation and so on. Supporters argue by stating that AA programs are in place to ensure the elimination of discrimination. Then, opposers argue that AA programs aren't putting an end to discrimination, but only making "reverse discrimination". Many believe that Affirmative Action programs are putting punishment on white males for the actions of their ancestors. Other critics argue that blacks aren't capable of competing with whites on an equal basis.
Many court cases have shown perfect examples of majorities denied opportunities because certain schools and employments take race into consideration when deciding who to chose. For example: Fisher vs. Texas was a court case about a young lady applicant that sued the University of Texas at Austin claiming that she was rejected because of the university's admission policy that allowed the school to consider race in its admission decisions.
In conclusion, this article provides facts about Affirmative Action programs and is very nuetral based- meaning it doesn't argue either side. However, I do not support Affirmative Action programs. I believe that these programs only causes reverse discrimination and do not give people equal opportunites. Certain groups should not be "punished" for the mistakes that were made by their ancestors.
This is really good infromation! And what did you mean by "reverse discrimination" and i like the ending of this saying that Many believe that "Affirmative Action programs are putting punishment on white males for the actions of their ancestors. Other critics argue that blacks aren't capable of competing with whites on an equal basis." I thought that part was kinda intresting maybe you could extend on that a little more.
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