Affirmative Action Racism And Discrimination Essay

America is called the land of opportunity however, most of the countries citizens atomic number 18 non able to enjoy the benefits that the title provides. Being able to grasp scholastic goals, attend a four-year college, and to make believe an influential career, are not obtainable for many, even though they work hard. Our nation has long been plagued by an ugly occurrence. An occurrence that finds its origins at the very core of our society. It is a conundrum familiar in some ways to all of us heedless of which side of the argu custodyt we find ourselves, and yet it remains unsolved. To verify that a problem exists, as Beverly, Tatum explains, we must first understand, racism as a musical arrangement of advantage based on race, and light privilege as unjust enrichment through racial oppression,(Tatum,pg 10, 115). Next we must look at the steps distinguishn to level the playing field of advanced racial groups.In America racism and contrast is a cruel reality. For centuries now, local, state, and subject area government activitys take aim been proactive in protecting or expanding the system of racial discrimination. White government officials and programs have often favored the racial and political-economic interests of white Americans. Government programs historically provided much access to homesteading land and numerous some other valuable resources exclusively to white Americans (Feagin, 2010, p. 143). In an affords toward concern for equality, optimistic fulfil was created. It was designed to counteract the effect that discriminatory practices have embedded in the American culture. Affirmative follow out refers to policies that take factors including race, color, religion, gender, sexual orientation, or topic origin into consideration in order to benefit an under represent group in areas of employment, education, and business, usually justified as countering the effects of a history of discrimination.The term affirmative action was fi rst apply in the United States in Executive Order 10925 and was signed by President John F. Kennedy on 6 March 1961 it was used to erect actions that achieve non-discrimination. In 1965, President Lyndon B. Johnson enacted Executive Order 11246 which required government employers to take affirmative action to hire without regard to race, religion and national origin. In 1968, gender was added to the anti-discrimination list. A lively debate with sparks flying at bottom racial group exists over the importance of the Affirmative action process. few would argue that affirmative action undeservingly rewards minorities, and takes away from whites in effect cause reverse discrimination. Not long ago, Senator Bob Dole, a Republican presidential candidate, spoke in a television interview of displaced white men who compete with black workers because of affirmative action.He said that he was not sure that people in America (he meant whites) should be paying a price for discrimination tha t occurred before they were born. (Feagin, 2010, p. 15). Taking this evidence into consideration, should this ferment the direction taken regarding affirmative action? University of California Regent protect Connerly believes that affirmative action is used as a crutch that is ruining the kindred between blacks and whites. If this were true, would this be a good reason to halt government involvement in affirmative action programs? Would people identify these issues and take steps to make changes? Historically this has not been the case. Affirmative action programs have been successful in making well-disposed change. Minorities that have previously been excluded from opportunities have been afforded opportunities to achieve through affirmative action programs.Initially, affirmative action was a policy primarily aimed at correcting institutional discrimination where decisions, policies and procedures that are not necessarily explicitly discriminatory have had a negative touch on people of color. Affirmative action policies address and redress overbearing economic and political discrimination against any group of people that are underrepresented or have a history of being discriminated against in peculiar(prenominal) institutions. Beneficiaries of these programs have included white men and women, people with disabilities, and poor working(a) class people, and their primary emphasis has been on addressing racial discrimination (Kivel, P)If our goal is to eradicate discriminatory practices, then our government must stay to mandate legislation, and fund programs to address these issues. Following this conclusion it is clear to notice that all evidence supports the benefits of affirmative action. What we have before us is a society with the possibility to make great strides in regards to changing the system of inequality. It is important that government lead in the direction that supports affirmative action programs. Government needs to see this as the big gest problem on their social agenda, and it will take a significant effort to mandate change, but the benefit for everyone will be extraordinary.ReferencesFeagin, J. (2010). Racist America Roots, Current Realities, and emerging Reparations New York Routledge Press. Tatum, Beverly Daniel. (2003). Why Are All the Black Kids Sitting together in the Cafeteria? New York Basic Books. Executive Order 11246. (2012, July 2). In Wikipedia, The set-apart Encyclopedia. Retrieved 1723, October 30, 2012, from http//en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Executive_Order_11246&oldid=500344831 Montgomery, A. (2000, march 27). A poison divides us, salon.com, Kivel, P. (1997, November,17) Affirmative Action Works Motion Magazine