Affirmative Action 1. Why it was started: The earliest implementation of affirmative action policies, before Kennedy coined the phrase, began under President Franklin Roosevelt in the second World War. He banned discrimination in the government and those involved in "war- related" work.

Later, President Lyndon B. Johnson expanded on Kennedy’s order to include women and signed the Civil Rights Act into law. He explained the purpose of affirmative action in this speech to Howard University's 1965 graduating class: "And this is the next and the more profound stage of the battle for civil rights. We seek not just freedom, but opportunity. We seek not just legal equity, but human ability; not just equality as a right and a theory, but equality as a fact and equality as a result.”

Less known, though, is that President Richard B. Nixon created goals and time frames around the legislation. "We would not impose quotas, but would require federal contractors to show affirmative action' to meet the goals of increasing minority employment," he wrote in his memoirs.

2) Why it is controversial: Quotas. The idea of a limited number of admissions or jobs for members of underrepresented groups and any type of preferential treatment runs counter to how we view our American dream, critics argue. That idea became central in the Massachusetts Senate race between Scott Brown and Elizabeth Warren. Warren was accused of using her Native American ancestry for jobs but has denied doing so.

In 1978, the landmark Regents of California v. Allan Bakke case made racial quotas unconstitutional. Bakke, a white student, sued after twice being denied admission to medical school, challenging the special admissions used to admit minority groups.

3) How it's changed: While affirmative action is usually spoken of in general terms, there is no singular policy or implementation of the ways in which affirmative action take shape in government organizations, colleges and corporations varies. Court cases continue to refine interpretations of how race is used at the university level. Some schools have experimented with a variety of ways of non-race-based models, like the Top 10 model that the University of Texas employs, to ensure the racial diversity of students.

4) How we feel about it: In a 2009 Pew poll, the majority of Americans supported affirmative action but strongly disagreed about minority preference. And while most African Americans (58%) and Hispanics (53%) agreed that minorities should get preferential treatment, only 22% of whites agreed.

5) Where it exists: Though quotas have been outlawed in the United States, the European Union has had a recent push to punish companies whose boards aren't composed of at least 40% women. And India, Brazil and Malaysia, among other countries, have laws and policies that address affirmative action in schools and throughout society.

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Arguments For Affirmative Action There has been discrimination in the past and affirmative action levels the “playing field” Affirmative action would increase minority representation in the workforce

Pros for Affirmative Action cont… Past discrimination has created an unequal society. Therefore, some minority classes have less income and fewer opportunities. Affirmative action would increase the number of opportunities available for minorities. Discrimination still exists! Our society is not yet totally colorblind.

Pros of Affirmative Action cont… Hiring different cultures would contribute to a diverse workforce –Example: Hiring a black police officer in a black neighborhood would be a great idea. Since the much of the population is black, a black officer would be able to easily relate to a black population. Wouldn’t a black teen feel more comfortable talking to a black police officer? A diverse University would help students better learn by exposing them to different cultures and views.

Arguments Against Affirmative Action Opponents of affirmative action say that affirmative action and its preferences have become a “crippling crutch” –Some minorities may try to take advantage of their minority status. They may obtain a job, but not have the ability to do the job as well as a non-minority would because of affirmative action.

Cons of Affirmative Action cont… There is often a “social stigma” attached to affirmative action. –Non-minorities may think a minority was hired just because the color of their skin or their gender. –Affirmative action leads to increased color consciousness and racial hostility between groups. –Affirmative action may create tension in the workplace and people may not be judged on merit.

Cons of Affirmative Action cont… Affirmative action and its race and gender classifications can harm those they intended to help by stigmatizing them, destroying their self-confidence while leading everyone to believe they cannot compete on their own merit.

Cons of Affirmative Action cont… The best, or most qualified person may not obtain a job, admission into a university, etc. because of affirmative action. –Therefore, someone may score higher on an ACT or SAT test, but still lose admission to a higher education school of their choice because of affirmative action policies.

Cons of Affirmative Action cont… Some people argue that affirmative action may not be necessary because the trajectory of U.S. history shows that previously excluded persons are being increasingly included, so discrimination is not enough to require policies such as affirmative action, which have serious side effects.

Concerning advantages going into college. In 2001 I found myself with the following disadvantages (college funds): –Wasn’t a Women (Auxiliary Scholarships) –Wasn’t a minority (Race based Scholarship) –Wasn’t an individual with a disability (Federal Credits for College) –There was no weighted credit in my high school so my GPA didn’t advance for taking more advanced classes. Oh ya and there was no College credit associated with those classes.

Other disadvantages My parents were not below the poverty line, so I was exempt from receiving many federal grants for tuition costs. I was majoring in high school social studies education where there were few scholarships as compared to some other field of study like engineering.

Advantages I had one parent who was a college graduate. My parents paid for my car, insurance, and taxing/licensing. I had free rent/food during the summer months. My parents paid $1000 for my rooming costs the first year, in exchange for me helping out at the farm during the weekends.

Continued I received food from my parents from time to time. I was taught, by my parents, financial skills for planning ahead and saving for future needs as oppose to today’s desires.