ISSUE 10

Does Affirmative Action Advance Racial Equality?

Jazmin Montero (Loury, 2002) (Williams, 2002) (Napikoski)
For my Taking Sides: Clashing Views on Political Issues, I have decided to do it on Does
Affirmative Action Advance Racial Equality? In this paper, you will learn of the opposing views
and see how this is an issue that is currently being discussed these days. As it is written in the
article, the argument of racial equality has been talked about for as long as we know it. Just as
we were taught as children in our history classes, we all know that this issue of racism goes way
beyond our memories. It is a subject that has been discussed for a long time.
Throughout history we have always read and even experienced or seen how racism has
played out throughout time. What does this have to do with Affirmative Action? When we think
of racism we think of the 50s when blacks were segregated from the whites. We look at our
modern day, and see blacks and whites as equals. We may disregard the issue of racism thinking
it is something that belongs to the past. However, in reality it is an issue very present in todays
American society and discourse.
Although many of the different racial inequality issues in our country were resolved in a
past. This issue has become ever more present and it has evolved throughout the years morphing
in other ways such as open discrimination and racial profiling. The Affirmative Action policy is
a program that is designed to counteract discrimination faced by not only ethnic minorities, but
also women and other underrepresented groups. It aims to foster diversity and prioritize inclusion
in areas such as employment and education. This policy dates back to President John F. Kennedy
in 1961. In an executive order, President Kennedy required federal contractors to take
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affirmative action to ensure that applicants are employedwithout regard to their race, creed,
color, or national origin.
The Affirmative Action policy as mentioned before not only aims to have equality for
everyone regardless of their gender. We will to focus on this paper on the racial component of
this argument. For those in favor, they argue that there is too much racial blindness in our
society today and it is causing too much superficiality in our society in regards to racial equality.
They put the example of the Affirmative Action in our college admissions. As they stated by
classifying by race, it is said, we distance our selves further from the goal of achieving a raceblind society. They go further more in explaining that we, as a society, are the ones who define
race, because of the way everyone perceives others and even themselves. They state that if we
would just stop putting people into these boxes, they would oblige us by not thinking of
themselves in these terms.
While others argue that this whole racial equality and civil rights issue has worn out its
political welcome. It is stated that even those who support the Affirmative Action, recognize
that rejection of racial preference is evident. As stated by Walter E Williams, before activists
fought against the use of race in the work force and education systems, today they fight for the
use of race in these institutions. And goes on to point out that the fight for racial equality is
completely different from what it was before to what it now is. They compare it to back when
blacks were segregated and civil rights organizations fought against restricted associations.
Today the fight is for restricted associations
Furthermore Walters argument concludes that the Affirmative Action brings Racial
Resentment. They believe that the affirmative action isnt what needs to be done to get rid of

racial inequality in this country. It is argued that affirmative action is a violation to justice and a
poor cover up for what the real work needs to be done.
When reviewing both articles, I agree with Walter. Affirmative Action has brought great
things to this country and opportunities to those that are underrepresented. The issue of Racial
Equality and Civil Rights goes way beyond that. The fight for civil rights and social justice in
our society has evolved to a whole new fight and now contradicts what our forefathers of social
justice dreamt about. We are failing as we let these associations of race be offensive when it
should be something they ought to be proud of representing. There race shouldnt determine their
opportunities of employment or study. It shouldnt matter what they check of in that tiny box in
their admissions process, because regardless of race, gender, or class everyone has the right to
the many opportunities this country has to offer.

Works Cited
Loury, G. C. (2002). Havard University Press. The Anantomy of Racial Inequality .
Napikoski, L. (n.d.). Affirmative Action Over View . Retrieved October 2014, from About Eduaton :
http://womenshistory.about.com/od/affirmativeaction/a/affirmative_action_overview.htm
Williams, W. E. (2002). Toward Liberty: The idea that is changing the world. Affirmative Action Cant be
Mended .