Affirmative Action Has It Run Its Course Essay, Research Paper

“It is a mistake to assume that the Negro, who had been a slave for two hundred and fifty years, gained his freedom by the signing, on a certain date, of a certain paper by the President of the United States. It is a mistake to assume that one man can, in any true sense, give freedom to another. Freedom, in a larger and higher sense, every man must gain for himself.”

Booker T. Washington

In his Autobiography

The problem in a realistic model of Affirmative Action is due to the history, political evolution and complicated definition. Affirmative Action as such has never been a law or even government policy. Affirmative Action has been comprised of a series of executive orders, governmental programs, civil rights laws, and enforcement of equal opportunity practices.

The basis for Affirmative Action dates as far back as, the Civil Rights Act of 1866, which stated “all persons within the jurisdiction of the United States shall have the same right in every State and Territory, to make and enforce contracts, to sue, be parties, give evidence, and to the full and equal benefit of all laws and proceedings for the security of persons and property as is enjoyed by white citizens?”( Marable, 4). Then in 1941, F.D.R. signed Executive order 8802, which outlawed discriminatory hiring practices by defense related industries holding federal contracts. Subsequently President Truman formed the Government Contract Compliance Committee that advocated the Bureau of Employment Security to act confidently and in a positive manner to execute the guiding principle of nondiscrimination in its role of placement counseling. Therefore the word Affirmative Action was not used until President Kennedy’s executive order 10925 in 1961. The basic idea to eliminate prejudices has been around for over a century.

I believe that when President Kennedy established Affirmative Action it was a necessary and crucial piece in helping the Civil Rights Act. Now 39 years later, I feel that it is outdated and allows prejudices to continue. Although the initial purpose of affirmative action programs was to give more blacks access to the job market, statistics indicate that the major effects of such race-preferential policies has been a redistribution of black workers from small and medium sized firms to large companies and federal jobs. Black unemployment rates have remained twice those of whites (Samuelson).

I feel that affirmative action policies failed to do what they were intended to do, but they have often provided opportunities to abuse the system. Opportunism disguised as “affirmative action” has extended across racial and political boundaries. Those who have taken advantage of this include the former black mayor of Charlotte, North Carolina, Henry Gantt, as well as white executives such as President Reagan’s labor secretary, Ray Donovan. When Donovan was brought upon charges that he had set up a facade of minority ownership for a company he owned, they were dropped by the judge who cited ”prevalence of the practice” (Woodson, 114).

The focus on race-preferential policies has had damaging consequences more than the opportunism it has generated. These policies assume that race is a disadvantage, and that this is justification for compensation by white society. “Before something can be a compensation it must first be a benefit” (Sowell, 420). Sowell goes on to describe that the income of blacks comparative to whites reached its peak before affirmative action hiring and has declined since. The median income of blacks reached a peak of 60.9 per cent of the median income of whites in 1970. This was a year before goals and timetables became a part of affirmative action (Sowell, 419). These race preferential policies are allowing people to not take responsibility for their actions. It allows them to rely on the system rather than being motivated and determined.

I think that the system has failed minorities and women because of the perceptions others may have of them and it then raises questions in their own minds. Was I really the best-qualified candidate or did they need to meet a quota? Many people in the workplace question the manner in which their jobs were obtained. I feel that it has to be degrading to feel as if you did not deserve the job but fill the slot affirmative action created. It appears to me affirmative actions policies actually hinder progress and helps to hold back a race.

“When we see society’s failures – dropouts or dope addicts, petty thieves or prostitutes – we do not know whether they are Italian or English, Baptist or Orthodox. But we know when they are Negro. So every Negro who fails confirms the voice of prejudice.”

Robert F. Kennedy

Speech National Council of Christians and Jews

April 28, 1965

It is my belief that the affirmative actions policies need to be abandoned. Their initial purpose was to allow blacks and women into the workforce, which is a standard acceptable practice today. Prejudices will always remain in society but focusing on them is not healthy for the American Economy or the well being of its citizens. We, as a nation, need to look deeper into the eyes of our citizens, and reward them for accomplishments and achievements not just based on skin color or gender.

In 1963, Martin Luther King, Jr. stated “I have a dream that my four little 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”. While in a liberal mind the color-blind ideal is regarding as an attack on blacks, it is becoming increasingly clear that weaning ourselves from affirmative action is the only way to secure lasting civic equality for people of color (Loury, 60).

Loury goes on to state that the difference is not really in race bias but is a challenge of the human condition.

Is this a task that is too great for blacks to achieve? If all people are to be judge based on quality and production would there still be the need for affirmative action? Right now it is a bigger hindrance than an advantage. Prejudice will remain but the levels of tolerance have increased and in my opinion are continually increasing. If people were rewarded for their acts and actions, not their race or gender, would this not be a better place to live? If society could return to a system of values, family, and community and country, the need for affirmative action would not exist. If love thy neighbor was a practice, rather than a phrase, the society as a whole would be stronger and in a better state of mind.

“ We are confronted primarily with a moral issue. It is as old as the Scriptures and as plain as and as clear as the American Constitution. The heart of the question is whether all Americans are to be afforded equal rights and equal opportunities.”

John F. Kennedy

National television address on Civil Rights

June, 1963

Government has tried to end racial and gender bias by affirmative action yet has failed. Rather than point out the differences among genders and races maybe we need to embrace the similarities. People would be more accepting of others if they knew more about them. Ignorance of others is fear and knowledge is the power to make America a better place. There will always be the extremists among us but the level of tolerance will increase in direct proportion to the amount of knowledge one has. The answer to whom can end racial and gender bias is the American people, as they are the only ones in control. The problem lies in the fact that Americans don’t even realize their own potential. Affirmative Action has been used by the government to hold the country back. Its origins were reasonable but the time has come to end the ignorance of the American public. Only than can this country be a happy and prosperous place to live, whatever your race, gender or ideals. We need to have a clearer foundation for what we as a society want, and manage to achieve our goals through working together.

Rather than conceding or lowering the standards, we need to focus on practice, performance, and personal responsibility. Affirmative Action should no longer be about special treatment. We need to find a way to educate the American public, especially the youths, who are just entering the workforce, and supply them with the skills and knowledge to meet high standards.

Bibliography

References

Adler, Bill. (1997). The Quotable Kennedys. New York: Avon Books.

Bender, D. (1996). Affirmative Action. San Diego: Greenhaven Press.

Loury, Glenn. “Performing Without a Net”. The Affirmative Action Debate. 49-64.

Marable, Manning. (1996). “Staying on the Path to Racial Equality”. The Affirmative Action Debate.3-15.

Samuelson, Robert. “A Mild and Pragmatic Affirmative Action”, Washington Post,

March 1,1995.

Sowell, Thomas (1990). Preferential Policies an International Perspective. New York: William Morrow and Company, Inc.

Woodson, Robert. “Personal Responsibility”. The Affirmative Action Debate. 111-120.

References

Adler, Bill. (1997). The Quotable Kennedys. New York: Avon Books.

Bender, D. (1996). Affirmative Action. San Diego: Greenhaven Press.

Loury, Glenn. “Performing Without a Net”. The Affirmative Action Debate. 49-64.

Marable, Manning. (1996). “Staying on the Path to Racial Equality”. The Affirmative Action Debate.3-15.

Samuelson, Robert. “A Mild and Pragmatic Affirmative Action”, Washington Post,

March 1,1995.

Sowell, Thomas (1990). Preferential Policies an International Perspective. New York: William Morrow and Company, Inc.

Woodson, Robert. “Personal Responsibility”. The Affirmative Action Debate. 111-120.