Affirmative Action
Affirmative action is a growing argument among our society. It is
multifaceted and very often defined vaguely. Some can define affirmative action
as the ability to strive for equality and inclusiveness. Others might see it as
a quota-based system for different minority groups. "Affirmative action was
originally designed to help minorities" (Gross, 1996). Is affirmative action
fair? Are minority groups on equal footing? Is gaining employment for minorities
difficult? Is education easily obtained for the minority groups of people?
Affirmative action endeavors to answer all these questions, while allowing
society to believe harmony exists.
"Affirmative action was
originally designed to help minorities, but women, especially white women, have
made the greatest gains as a result of these programs" (Boston, 1996). Is
affirmative action fair? In 1974, a woman named Rose was turned down for a
supervisory job in favor of a male. She was told that she was the most qualified
person, but the position was going to be filled by a man, because he had a
family to support. Five years before that, when Rose was about to fill an
entry-level position in banking, a personnel officer outlined the woman’s pay
scale, which was $25 to $50 a month less than what men were being paid in the
same position. Rose was furious because she felt this was discriminating to her.
She confronted the personnel officer and he saw nothing wrong with it. In 1977,
a woman working for a company as a clerk was informed that she should be at home
raising a family. She allowed the comments to persist until she was given two
weeks notice that her position was no longer available. Upon leaving the
position she learned the company had given the clerk position to a man because
he had a family to support. Thanks to affirmative action, situations like the
ones mentioned are becoming less frequent and employers are correcting these
situations quickly and efficiently.
Affirmative action has definitely
helped women and minorities in their careers, but it has yet to succeed in the
goal of equality in the business world for women and minorities. As more and
more women are faced with discrimination in large firms, more have decided to
strike out on their own. "Observers argue that women have made huge strides with
the help of affirmative action. They now hold 40 percent of all corporate
middle-management jobs, and the number of women-owned businesses has grown by 57
percent since 1982" (Dundul, 1995).
"Affirmative action was designed to give
qualified minorities a chance to compete on equal footing with Whites"
(Chappell, 1995). Equal opportunities for the African Americans, for the most
part, has remained more wishful-thinking than fact. African American students
are continuing to struggle for an education. In society today, many educational
institutions offer scholarships for minorities. Ethnic minority students can
further their education from the elementary level to the Ph.D level. However,
for a minority student, all the financial assistance in the world, is not going
to pay for the racial discrimination that they may receive, while attending a
white educational facility. In 1982 a young African American man had been
accepted into an Ivy league institution. His family were proud of his
achievements and his ability to become someone great. As time progressed, our
African American student dressed like a black, walked like a black, looked like
a black, but to keep well with his professors talked, and acted like his white
counterparts.
Equal opportunities for African Americans continue to be
hard work and wishful-thinking. African American business owners are still
competing against their White counterparts. Society labels and stereotypes
certain ethic people. For example, when a person enters an electronic store and
the owner is white, the person shopping continues to look at the items on the
shelf. When an individual walks into an electronic store owned by an African
American, the shopper may believe some of the items are stolen. Affirmative
action is a written law requesting that minorities have equal opportunities
however, society dictates how the opportunities will be given. African American
workers are experiencing an unemployment rate twice that of Whites.The low rate
of unemployment is due to low-income, low-education and low individual worth of
African Americans. African Americans hold dead-end, labor-intensive, low-paying
jobs. "Few can argue that racism is still rampant in awarding contracts, jobs,
and educational opportunities" (Chappell, 1995).
Affirmative action needs
to overcome the disparities of employment that exist in this country. A recent
Urban Benchmarks’ study found that of 71 metro areas surveyed nationwide,
Pittsburgh had the highest rate of employment-related problems among
non-Hispanic whites between the ages of 25 and 54 and the sixth highest rate
among African Americans in the same age group. The employment outlook for
minorities is difficult, but not hopeless. Jobs can be obtained with education
and persistence of each individual. "Jobs require more than a high-school
diploma, but less than a four-year degree--such as an associate degree or
certificate from a vocational or trade school" (Kovatch, 1996). Today employers
both private and public require individuals to take a test before entering their
place of employment. For example, if one were to apply for a job with Foodland a
test for your basic educational skill is required. To become a fireman,
policeman, teacher, or Kentucky Fried Chicken employee you are required to take
a test before being hired. To further your education you need to take a test to
enter a University. Abundant jobs for today are in the technological, computer,
and internet areas. The need to be educated is a part of life. In our society
there are difficulties with basic education. Affirmative action gives minorities
the right to equal education.
Education encourages all minorities in our
society to better themselves. Alex Hayley writes, "When I first wrote this book
in 1982, I thought that education in America was about as bad as it could be.
However, in the past eight years I have had many opportunities to observe
schools throughout the country, and I have found that the situation is worse
than I realized" (Hayley, 1982). Affirmative action encourages equal
opportunities for education. Is education easily obtained for the minority
groups of people? Minority groups have difficulties in turning out highly
educated and motivated students. An inner city teacher Marva Collins began her
own school. This school was open to all children however, the majority of the
school population were of minority ethnic backgrounds. The school did not have
funds for education, no school books, no desks and no chalkboard. Students
grades were appalling, reading levels were extremely low and the mathematical
skills of students, were not quite at a decent third grade level. In 1980
education for these children was inevitably needed. As one reads "Marva Collins
Way", you learn that this miracle worker turned out motivated, educated, and
socially behaved students.
The educational opportunities for minority
groups is low. One may argue that education is low due to finances. Studies have
demonstrated that cities with the majority of the population being African
American tend to have low income earners, low standards of living and low basic
education skills. One may argue that the community in which certain minority
people have grown up in does not encourage education. Illegal drug abuse is
often found in these communities. Drug users are parasites, feeding off
society's money, taxes and insurance. Those with low self-esteem seem to find
that the drug dealers are their way to escape reality. One may argue that the
minority of people simply do not want to succeed in life, because there is no
equality in our society. Affirmative action increases the opportunities for
every minority whether race, creed, religion, or age to an equal opportunity for
an educational experience.
Affirmative action is a growing
argument among our society. It is multifaceted and very often defined vaguely.
Some can define affirmative action as the ability to strive for equality and
inclusiveness. Others might see it as a quote-based system for different
minority groups. "Affirmative action was originally designed to help minorities"
(Gross, 1996). Is affirmative action fair? Affirmative action has become a tool
for minorities to use for equality in the business world. Women, African
Americans, Hispanics and the like now have a level tool that would support their
rights as individuals in the business world. Yes, affirmative action
demonstrates fairness. Are minority groups on equal footing? Today, affirmative
action is recognized however, the "glass ceiling" is still there. The glass
ceiling refers to "you can see it, but you can’t get it". Minorities can reach
for the ceiling but still have difficulty actually trying to touch it.
Unfortunately affirmative action cannot tell society to behave in a way that
would place every individual, every minority group on equal footing. Is gaining
employment for minorities difficult? Today, the employment opportunities for
minorities has increased. Minorities education is increasing slowly, hence the
level of job opportunities has changed. Minority people have the right to apply
for jobs, contracts, and higher paying employment if they are qualified.
Affirmative action has given minorities the freedom to obtain equal employment
opportunities. Is education easily obtained for the minority groups of people?
Education is a necessity of life. For an individual to survive in todays society
the need for an education is imperative. Education is an ugly display of how
affirmative action is only a piece of paper with a written law on it.
Unfortunately, minority groups of people still have the constant issue of trying
to get a fair, equal, education. There are many scholarships, financial grants
and aids, both federal and state for minority individuals, however, not all
children obtain an education today. Society has found that the environment in
which minority groups grow up in, needs to improve. The community of minority
groups needs to improve the quality of education taught and
received.
Affirmative action is a great tool for minorities. It
encourages equality in humanity. I agree and support affirmative action in that
individual’s should be treated equally.
Bibliography
1. "A
Question of Fairness" Ladies Home Journal. March 1996.
2. Boston, Thomas.
"Ready, Aim, Fire". Black Enterprises. March 1996.
3. Chappell, Kevin.
"What They Don’t Tell You About Affirmative Action" Ebony. August
1995.
4. Cooper, Matthew. "Affirmative Action on Ever-Thinning Ice".
American Enterprises. January/February 1996.
5. Dundul, Tom.
"Affirmative Action". Working Women, October 1995.
6. Haley, Alex and
Collins, Marva. "Marva Collins Way Returning to Excellence
in Education". Jeremy P. Tarcher, Incorporated. 1990.