Essay about Affirmative Action A Means to End Inequality

Affirmative Action: A Means to End Inequality Throughout the United States, many types of inequality can be identified. What exactly does this statement mean? First, defining inequality would help one best approach this matter. The Merriam-Webster Online Dictionary defines inequality as â€Å"the quality of being unequal or uneven† through† a lack of evenness b: social disparity c: disparity of distribution or opportunity d: the condition of being variable† (Merriam Webster). Now the question is clearer, as identifying types of inequality is equivalent to recognizing the different groups that exist within the boundaries of the U.S. For instance, people can be grouped based on income, the level of education, or their position in their†¦show more content†¦The concept of affirmative action formally appeared when president Franklin D. Roosevelt called on governmental defense departments â€Å"not to discriminate against any worker because of race, creed, color, or national origin† (Roosevelt 1941). In 1961 President John F. Kennedy created Executive Order 10925 and coined the phrase â€Å"affirmative action,† a policy that emphasized themes that were analogous to Roosevelt’s (Wilcher 1). The Civil Rights Act of 1964 prohibited discrimination by large employment agencies and the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission and the Office of Federal Contract Compliance Programs were created to implement â€Å"civil rights laws in employment† (Skrentny 1). Several moderately effective legislative measures have been taken since these executive orders such as President Jimmy Carter’s Executive Order 12138 which created a National Women’s Business Enterprise Policy (Wilcher 1). Today, affirmative action has specifically come to be regarded as those policies which are aimed at correcting inequalities that exist because of past discriminatory practices. Even today, affirmative action remains a hotly debated topic. In early 2003, groups of college students held rallies and protests, in support of and opposing affirmative action, leading up to legal briefs concerning the University of Michigan’s admissions policy were due to the U.S. Supreme Court in the cases of Grutter v.Show MoreRelatedWhy We Still Need Affirmitive Action1493 Words   |  6 PagesWhy we still need affirmative action Because of the complex nature of the discussion on affirmative action and the controversies and the emotion surrounding it, it is imperative to first recap on the causes of race and inequality in the United States of America. The policies on affirmative action were proposed as a fractional remedy for the socio-economic impacts of past and present disadvantage faced by certain groups in the population, especially with regard to biases on gender and race. Such disadvantagesRead MoreDiscriminatory Practices And Natural Inequalities Essay1497 Words   |  6 Pages Whether individuals recognize it or not, the world is filled with discriminatory practices and natural inequalities. Even the â€Å"free† country, The United States, possesses many cringe worthy social inconsistencies in regards to: race or ethnicity, religion, gender, physical abilities, sexual identity, and sexual orientation. These discriminatory practices bring many circumstances to all dimensions of society. Par ticularly due to racist discrimination, minorities are left to a disadvantage in higherRead MoreAffirmative Action : Gender Action Essay970 Words   |  4 PagesAffirmative Action (ADD PROPER INTRO) Affirmative action, in its broadest sense, are attempts to help create labor and educational opportunities for groups that have been disadvantaged in the past. (Miriam Webster). Evidence has shown that throughout history, many groups have been discriminated against, and because of past (discriminations?), they continue to experience obstacles in areas of hiring, promotion, renting, buying, gaining education, and everyday economic activities. Thus, affirmativeRead MoreDiscrimination And Discrimination Against Minority Groups1034 Words   |  5 Pagesfor economic progress, and accentuates social tensions and inequalities† (International Labour Organization). That’s why the existence and especially the persistence of racial or sexist discrimination have led to the introduction of new policies in many countries. Indeed, in order to fight the issue of discrimination and redress the injustices, the positive discrimination concept has been introduced. This term, also named aff irmative action, was first used by President Kennedy in 1961 in the UnitedRead More Affirmative Action Is the Wrong Action Essays1708 Words   |  7 PagesAffirmative Action Is the Wrong Action The United States of America has long been a country divided by race. Hate has pervaded her existence since her conception, and now today’s society is forced to deal with those issues. Minorities have suffered at the hands of the white male majority for centuries as the social activities of the old war were brought to the new colonies, only to ferment and continue to affect the lives of all who lived within her borders. There is no doubting that thisRead MoreUnderlying Reasons for Affirmative Action1442 Words   |  6 PagesIntroduction The issue of affirmative action has existed for around forty years, but the Wall Street Journal reports that the idea may be coming to an end (Sander Taylor, 2012). The reason for this is that while the idea of affirmative action originated for positive reasons, it has also had some negative side effects. In light of the possibility that affirmative actions are unwound, it is necessary to consider what might happen if that were to occur. This essay will consider precisely that issueRead MoreAffirmative Action Should Be Changed or Ended All Together1605 Words   |  7 PagesAffirmative action should be changed or ended altogether In the late Sixties, Martin Luther King Jr. fought hard for equal rights. Before he was assassinated in 1968, he made a speech about his vision of human equality. I have a dream that my four children will one day live in a nation where they will not be judged by the color of their skin but by the content of their character. (King) The Sixties were a turning point for racial equality. Because of leaders like King, many blacks and minorityRead More Its Time to Put and End to Affirmative Action Essay1586 Words   |  7 Pages Affirmative action should be changed or ended altogether In the late Sixties, Martin Luther King Jr. fought hard for equal rights. Before he was assassinated in 1968, he made a speech about his vision of human equality. â€Å"I have a dream that my four children will one day live in a nation where they will not be judged by the color of their skin but by the content of their character.† (King) The Sixties were a turning point for racial equality. Because of leaders like King, many blacks and minorityRead MoreThe Affirmative Of Affirmative Action Essay1389 Words   |  6 Pages Many affirmative action efforts have been made since the end of the Civil War in order to remedy the results of hundreds of years of slavery, segregation and denial of opportunity for groups that face discrimination. Many African Americans such as President Barack Obama, Senator Cory Booker, the writer Toni Morrison, the literary scholar Henry Louis Gates, media star Oprah Winfrey, and rap star Jay-Z have achieved positions of power and influence in the wider society (Giddens, Duneier, AppelbaumRead MoreA Lesson Before Dying, by Ernest J. Gaines and None of this is Fair, by Richard Rodriguez1469 Words   |  6 PagesInequality was a big issue back then, when there was not a clear understanding of what it was. The novel â€Å"A Lesson Before Dying† by Ernest J. Gaines was set in 1948 before the Civil Right Movement. It shows the problems and successes of African-Americans. The short story â€Å"None of this is Fair† by Richard Rodriguez was about how Affirmative Action benefited the minority making it unfair for white students to succeed. In the novel, Grant is a black person and educated, he is different from the other