Affirmative Action

Shelby Parmer

BU 371

Jim Tanoos

30 April 2015

Affirmative Action

INTRODUCTION

        Affirmative action seems to be a never ending problem in the world today. This term can be defined as, “A set of policies that seeks to correct past discrimination through measures to ensure equal opportunity for everyone” (NCLS). Affirmative action is apparent everywhere today; in the workplace, on college campuses, and even in professional sports. In 1961, John F. Kennedy became the first person to use the term. The president at the time believed that everyone should be treated equally regardless of their race, gender, or religion. Soon word spread about Kennedy’s thoughts and concerns; people either agreed or disagreed. After his public release of affirmative action it didn’t take him long to establish the president’s committee on equal employment opportunity. Now today, not only is gender, race, and religion protected but so are multiple other things. Discrimination is now decreasing when it comes to low-income, disabilities, and even age. Although the problem is not as apparent as it was over fifty years ago, it is still an issue and many people are realizing this. Like President Lyndon Johnson said in 1965, “You do not take a person who, for years, has been hobbled by chains and liberate him, bring him up to the starting line of a race and then say you are free to compete with all the others, and still just believe that you have been completely fair” (Civil Rights 101).

BODY

        After Kennedy’s press release in 1961, there was another big announcement to try to end discrimination. Three years later, in 1964 a Civil Rights Act was established which was a landmark legislation that prohibited employment discrimination by larger employers. The Civil Rights Act also put a seal on the establishment of the equal employment opportunity commission. Like I stated above, in most instances affirmative action is evident on college campuses, but more importantly in admission offices of colleges. There have been several court cases regarding affirmative action, but one that stands out the most to be is one that took place at the admissions office of the University of California in 1978. A prospective student, Allan Bakke had been rejected both times after applying to the university. According to the court case, “The school reserved 16 places in each entering class of 100 for "qualified" minorities, as part of the university's affirmative action program” (ACLU). After further review court officials saw that Bakke’s credentials surpassed any other minority student who had recently been admitted. The court would later rule that Bakke was not accepted by the admissions office due to his race. A man should not be penalized from receiving a valuable education just because of race. That being said, affirmative action is not just noticeable in education, but also in federal programs. In 1995, two men; Robert Dole and Charles Canady both implemented an act which now known as the Equal Opportunity Act in Congress. This specific act would primarily eliminate any race or gender issues within any federal programs. Once again, no one should be rejected from an occupation due to their race or gender. In a more recent case involving affirmative action, a white woman was denied to Michigan University. In 2005, Michigan’s personal admitted that they strived for a balanced campus, which was evident, because studies showed that they almost always accepted any student that was Hispanic, African American, or Native American. In this scenario it was the minority groups that were getting the special treatment and the whites who were being penalized for their race.

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