Definition of affirmative action

Affirmative Action Defined

An action or policy favoring those who tend to suffer from discrimination, esp. in relation to employment or education; positive discrimination.

"You do not wipe away the scars of centuries by saying: 'now, you are free to go where you want, do as you desire, and choose the leaders you please.' You do not take a man who for years has been hobbled by chains, liberate him, bring him to the starting line of a race, saying, 'you are free to compete with all the others,' and still justly believe you have been completely fair . . . This is the next and more profound stage of the battle for civil rights. We seek not just freedom but opportunity—not just legal equity but human ability—not just equality as a right and a theory, but equality as a fact and as a result."

-President Johnson

Definition of affirmative action

An action or policy favoring those who tend to suffer from discrimination in relation to education.

Who supports Affirmative Action:

• Nearly 70% of Americans support affirmative action , however only in the case of programs that help blacks, women and other minorities get better jobs and education

Cons

• Demeaning to minorities success

• May create reverse discrimination

• Causes a schools to make acceptance decisions based on race

States that had problems with affirmative action

• Texas
• California
• Michigan & six other states

Legal Issues

• An ex-University of Texas applicant was wait listed and said that she was squeezed out by other minorities that she said were less deserving than her.

• There were several legal battles over the college decision based on race which was not because of a system that the college did.

• The college system was to auto accept students above 10% and go through the process for those that are below 10% which she was in the 11%.

Court Cases that challenge a college admission based upon race :

Pro's

• Disadvantaged students and workers get help to succeed

• Creates diversity

• Breaks stereotypes

Minority Opinion

• Diversity is desirable

• Compensates for the centuries of slavery

• Would help lead a truly color-blind society

• Helps boost those who are at a disadvantage

• Opens minds to new interests

Majority Opinion

• A persons ethnicity can not determine one's ability to do a job.

• Skin color should be ignored when making college decisions

• It forces a choice between people over their race and not their ability

• It is tough to remove even after discrimination has been eliminated

Corporate Affirmative Action

The majority of corporate affirmative action programs are attempts to improve workforce diversity.

"Having a more diverse team leads to greater innovation and creativity as well as opening up the possibilities of different perspectives." - Debrah Daget

Statistics

Diversity does not exclusively mean race but also gender, those with disabilities or who are gay or transgender.

• In 2012 the average female salary was 77% of what males were making.
• 75% of workers with disabilities encountered some type of discrimination.
• 8-17% of gay & transgender workers have been passed over a job or fired.

President Obama's views on Affirmative Action

Benefits

• Creates creativity & Innovation
• Helps company remain competitive
• Generational differences