the central issue of American politics throughout our history

sparked the nations only civil war. Even today, it continues

today to be the nations most vexing political concern.
Traditionally, equality meant equality of opportunity: an equal
opportunity to develop individual talents and abilities and to be
rewarded for work, initiative, merit, and achievement.
Over time, the issue of equality has shifted to equality of
results: an equal sharing of income and material rewards.
With this shift in definition has come political conflict over the
question of what, if anything, government should do to narrow the
gaps between rich and poor, men and women, blacks and whites,
and all other groups in society.

Equality

 Equality of Opportunity
establishing an equal playing field.
individuals should not be encumbered by artificial barriers
rooted in prejudices or preconceptions
effort and skill should be the primary factor determining
success and failure.
a race.

I Have a Dream
I have a dream that my four little children will one day live
in a nation where they will not be judged by the color of
their skin, but by the content of their character.

Equality of Opportunity

 idea that material inequalities in society should be reduced as

much as possible, generally through redistribution of wealth.
controversial
Proponents
equality of opportunity cannot be achieved in a society that permits
inequality of results
wealthy benefit from access to better education, greater social
connections, and other advantages
undermines the principle of equality of opportunity.
No one really starts in the same position.

Critics
equality of results would undermine any incentive for individuals
to excel
If everyone receives the same reward, why should anyone work
hard?

Equality of Results

 Civil Rights movement of the 1960s focused on

improving equality of opportunity
Todays racial politics tend to focus on the actual
inequality of results between blacks and whites.
The average income of a black family is only 62 percent
that of the average white family;
the average Hispanic familys income is only 68 percent
that of the average white family.
Nearly one-quarter of all black families live in poverty.
Only 11 percent of white families do so.
The unemployment rate for blacks in the United States is
more than twice that of whites.

Equality of Results

historical impact of
discrimination

The infant mortality rate

Life expectancy
The maternal mortality rate
The unemployment rate
The average income
Official poverty threshold
Health insurance
Owning their own homes
10.7 percent of the black male
population aged 3034
incarcerated, versus 1.9 percent of
the white male population of the
same age, according to U.S.
Department of Justice statistics.

the mechanisms intended to

address inequality
Affirmative Action

intended to achieve greater equality

between blacks and whites, particularly
in hiring and university admissions
practices.
a remedy for past discrimination.

Racial Gerrymandering

The creation of majority-minority

districts
to address past discrimination.
Controversial

ensure the representation of minorities

in the House of Representatives
can dilute the voting power of minority
voters.
beginning in the late 1980s, the
Supreme Court gradually imposed
limitations echoing restrictions
imposed on affirmative action.

Problems & Solutions

To what extent do the solutions above address the problems cited?