Pros And Cons Of Affirmative Action

Affirmative Action is a complex topic. Affirmative Action was created in order to eradicate or at least reduce discrimination and to make equal opportunity a reality. The pushing of equality is admirable but many people feel it is no longer necessary, that the goal of equal opportunity has already been achieved. That Affirmative Action now only serves to give minorities and women (both qualified and unqualified) an unfair advantage. Is Affirmative Action still needed in today’s world or should it be abolished? Started during the civil rights movement in 1961, Affirmative Action calls for minorities and women to be given special consideration in employment, education and contracting decisions (The beginning and end of Affirmative Action).

They argue that the Affirmative Action does not help those who have been discriminated against in the past but instead unjustly rewards them and provides benefits for people who do not deserve them. Further more people believe that the discrimination Affirmative Action strives to erase never occurred or if it ever occurred it has dissipated by now. It is true that in terms of civil equality great strides have been made. However, we still have a long way to go. Black people continue to have the highest unemployment rate as opposed to whites who have the lowest (U.S. Department of Labor). Without affirmative action, the percentage of minority students at most of our more selective colleges would drop significantly. Despite gains made in most aspects of employment and college admissions in the past 25 years, the ratio of white-to-black advantage still remains the same. Many seem to write off minority students who get into universities and colleges with Affirmative Action. These students do not deserve the opportunity any less because they got it with Affirmative Action initiatives. These students have still worked hard for their success. Contrary to the belief that they are under qualified, many minority students have put in even more time and work to prove they deserve a to be recognized. With determination they manage to overcome the racism left behind from another era that constantly questions their intellect and academic capacity. These students may have been granted admissions because of affirmative action, but they will still go on to be some of the most successful doctors, scientists, politicians, artists and teachers of our