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Argumentative Essay: Affirmative Action And Civil Rights

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The official definition from Merriam-Webster for affirmative action is “ an active effort to improve the employment or educational opportunities of members of minority groups and women ; also: a similar effort to promote the rights or progress of other disadvantaged persons” Affirmative action was first introduced in 186, after the signing of The Emancipation Proclamation, when General William T. Sherman suggested that sizeable plantations, in Georgia that were under his command, be split up and 40 acres, along with a mule be given to every family of color. He wanted this so that people, who were set free with nothing and nowhere to go, would have at least a chance of succeeding. This was met with a lot of opposition from high power …show more content…

Affirmative action is guaranteeing the civil rights of designated groups of people by taking positive action. Justice William J. Brennan jr. said once that it is to protect these groups of people from “The lingering effects of pervasive discrimination.” Affirmative action really started growing after the case of BROWN v. BOARD OF EDUCATION. Even after a decade after Brown, there was still very little change. Therefore legislatures and business executives mandated positive actions to be appropriated to integrate schools. This was named Green v. County School Board.

Affirmative action has integrated people who would normally never have gotten that job, or gone to that school, to work there and go to that school. Despite the backlash from certain cases of affirmative action, it is an act that helps diversify places that are dominantly one group of people. It has not only helped people of color achieve more opportunities, but it has also helped women to vote and get jobs they never would’ve been able to hold before. It has helped an array of people and continues to help more people.

It has helped so many people and has tried to make sure that everyone gets an equal opportunity. While not always succeeding because of a large amount of discrimination still present today, affirmative action keeps some places

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The Civil Rights Act of 1964 is hailed by many as one of the most important legislations in the American history. The act was passed into law 52 years ago under a lot of pressure and resistance from white senators and African American activists. The act, which was largely known as the “Bill of the century” was aimed at bringing equality for blacks and whites and end racial prejudice. The act was targeted to revolutionize America where blacks and whites would eat together in the same hotels and enjoy similar rights in public places without any discrimination.

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Affirmative action has become obsolete in today’s society. Affirmative action is an active effort to improve the employment or educational opportunities of members of minority groups and women; also: a similar effort to promote the rights or progress of other disadvantaged persons (Merriam-Webster, 2011). Today’s affirmative action will demoralize the very concepts that the policy was implemented to uphold: those of equality for all people regardless of color and discrimination. This policy supports racial multiplicity at the price of distinction, impartiality and experience; it also follows the line of reverse discrimination and sexual bias against white men (Reyna, Tucker, Korfmacher, & Henry, 2005).

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Throughout many of the affirmative action legal cases, one of the main arguments from proponents is that it is necessary in order to right the wrongs of past racial discrimination. Some say that affirmative action is justified because even though white applicants may be more qualified, this is only because they did not face the same hardships as their minority counterparts (Rachels, Ethics, 1973).  Many argue if we do not integrate disadvantaged minorities into mainstream social institutions, they will continue to suffer the discrimination that has plagued our country for centuries and that this is detrimental to not only the minorities but also society as a whole (Anderson, 2002, 1270–71). However, the debate has recently shifted to the benefits of diversity in the classroom which the Supreme Court has affirmed as being a positive thing

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