The Benefits of Affirmative Action
Affirmative action has helped the income, promotion and labor force participation rates of both women and minorities. For example, between 1982 and 1995, the percentage of female managers and professionals in the U.S. rose from 40.5 to 48.0 percent; blacks from 5.5 to 7.5 percent, and Hispanics from 5.2 to 7.6 percent. By comparison, these groups form 51.2 percent, 12.6 percent, and 10.2 percent of the population, respectively. Progress has been steady, but still incomplete.
Many critics of affirmative action believe it has failed to achieve its stated goal of equal employment opportunity. A few even believe that it has done more harm than good. A review of the statistics, however, shows that both minorities and women have made substantial progress towards equality in the last several decades.
Before reviewing the relevant statistics, it would be helpful to build a timeline of important dates in affirmative action history.
An affirmative action timeline
In 1961, John F. Kennedy signed an executive order that intended the end of discrimination in federal contracting. "The Contractor will take affirmative action, to ensure that applicants are employed, and that employees are treated during employment, without regard to their race, creed, color or national origin." (1) The act did not mandate quotas, only discrimination-free employment practices.
The Civil Rights Act of 1964 broadened this policy. Title IV declared that "No person in the United States shall, on the grounds of race, color or national origin, be excluded from participation in, be denied benefits of, or be subjected to discrimination under any program or activity receiving Federal financial assistance."
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... Population Reports, P25-1095, P25-1104 and unpublished data.
7. ACLU Briefing Paper on California affirmative action.
8. Poverty rate: U.S. Bureau of the Census, Income and Poverty, 1993. Unemployment rate: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Series ID: lfu21000002. Civilian employment/population ratio: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Series ID : lfu1600002. Income and income ratio: U.S. Bureau of the Census, Current Population Reports, Series P60.
9. U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Employment and Monthly Earnings, 1994.
10. Poverty: Figures before 1990 from U.S. Bureau of the Census, 1960-89. Figures from 1990 on from U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Unemployment: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Income: U.S. Bureau of the Census, Current Population Reports, Series P60. Percentage of white median: derived from same income table by Steve Kangas.
Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 states that any program that receives federal funding and assistance may not discriminate based on race, national origin, or skin color. All students are allowe...
Discrimination is still a chronic global issue, and drastic inequalities still exist at the present time. Thus, the Affirmative Action Law is an important tool to many minorities most especially to women, and people of color, for the reason that this program provides an equality on educational, and professional opportunities for every qualified individual living in the United States. Without this program, a higher education would have been impossible for a “minority students” to attain. Additionally, without the Affirmative Action, a fair opportunity to have a higher-level career...
U.S. Department of Labor. "Characteristics of Minimum Wage Workers: 2011." U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, 2 Mar. 2012. Web. 16 Feb. 2014.
"How the Government Measures Unemployment." U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, n.d. Web. 04 July 2017.
US Bureau of the Census; ?Estimates of the population of state by age, sex, race & Hispanic origin: 1990 to 1999;? published 12/29/99
Affirmative Action is the policies that have been introduced to provide equal opportunities to people who have been historically excluded. The action is implemented by providing equal access to education, salary, employment and respect to the group such as women and minorities. The policies were introduced in 1960’s during the civil rights movement in the belief of providing equal rights to the group that has been ruled out by the society. In 1961 President Kennedy was the first to use the term “Affirmative Action” to make sure that all employees are treated in the same manner without discriminating them with their race, color, and national origin. The main reason to establish affirmative action is to increase the employment opportunities and
According to the Encyclopædia Britannica, affirmative action is “an active effort to improve employment or educational opportunities for members of minority groups and women.” However, despite its well-intentioned policies, it has been the source of much controversy over the years. Barbara Scott and Mary Ann Schwartz mention that “proponents of affirmative action argue that given that racism and discrimination are systemic problems, their solutions require institutional remedies such as those offered by affirmative action legislation” (298). Also, even though racism is no longer direct, indirect forms still exist in society and affirmative action helps direct. On the other hand, opponents to affirm...
The problem is determining if a person’s ability and character is devalued due to this preference for minority groups. Affirmative action is often abused when people use their ethnicity rather than workmanship or skill level to receive a job or college opportunity. Through the years after President John F. Kennedy first introduced affirmative action, there has not been significant steps toward equality of the races in the workplace or schools. Therefore, new actions and plans should be put in place to help solve this on-going
The question of quitting rings loudly in my mind. The year is 1777-1778 at Valley Forge, Pennsylvania in the middle of the deadly winter. Many men are dying because of diseases, the climate, and even starvation. I know what I need to do, nobody said it would be easy, I need to re-enlist. General George Washington is asking all of the men that same question: Would you re-enlist?, and I can’t believe that some of them will not even consider it. Why would you quit when you still have so much to fight for? My country deserves their freedom, and why would I quit when I’m still healthy? After all, George Washington is a great leader, and is an agreeable man, he would fight with us to the very end.
The issue of affirmative action has been a controversial one since its inception. The law was developed during the 1960’s as a result of the civil rights movement and the need to address injustices committed against minorities throughout the United States history. There were multiple attempts to correct the inequities between the majority and the various minorities including the 13, 14 and 15th Amendments. The Civil Rights Act of 1964 allowed for the creation of the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) to create rules to end discrimination. Affirmative action came into being with the executive order 11246 issued by President Johnson. The Civil Rights Act and President Johnson’s executive order have been updated throughout the years to address gender, disabilities, age and other characteristics that could be considered discriminatory.
U.S. Census Bureau. 2012. “Poverty Thresholds by Size of Family and Number of Children” [Excel file].
U.S. Bureau of the Census. "The Hispanic Population of the United States: March 1991." Current Population Reports, P20-455. Washington, D.C.: U.S. Government Printing Office, 1991.
Income, Poverty, and Health Insurance in the United States: 2010. Us Department of Justice Census Bureau website. N.P. November 3, 2011.
to teach himself as much as he can, for he has only little time to