"Affirmative Action has been the process that has affected change and is leveling the playing field"

-- John Hill

Positive Points

There are many positive points to affirmative action. A plus to affirmative action is that many individual companies have adopted affirmative action to make an impact on the nation. The number of minority managers and staff had tripled in the last 10 years. Affirmative action is justified as a remedy for the effects of past discrimination because it ultimately eliminates the advantage that whites have over blacks. Black people deserve to get jobs on the same level with white people or any other race. Affirmative action gives minorities a chance to get a job and the same pay as white people do.

Negative Points

There are many negative downfalls to affirmative action. We cannot fall to prey to the inane notion that discrimination is an evil of the past. If the do not qualify for the job, they do not deserve the job. Why should that person get a job because of the past, if he/she had nothing to do with it? Even though it is helping the minorities it is giving whites a disadvantage because it will give the job to the less qualified. Afro-American college funds helps blacks and minorities get a better education. If blacks take advantage of the funding there will be no need for affirmative action in the education system. Conservatives like to point out that reverse discrimination is caused by affirmative action.

Viewpoints and Opinions

The phrase "affirmative action" also serves as the line that divides people who have different views on the nations most enduring problem: how Americans should deal with minorities.

Is affirmative action reverse discrimination?
Yes: Affirmative action demoralizes both blacks and that racial preferences do not empower blacks.

No: Affirmative action is justified as a remedy for the affects of past discrimination because ultimately, eliminates the advantages that whites historically have over blacks.

Is Affirmative action constitutional?
Yes: We must make up for the past discrimination.

No: The law and the constitution must not discriminate on the basis of race, for what ever reason.

Should it continue?
Yes: It has had a little effect but we believe that it is helping in providing new opportunities for education and economic advancement.

No: Law firms argues that any decision on the basis of race, gender, religion, or national origin is inconsistent with the goal and ideal of equality.

Did You Know?

According to a study conducted by the United States Bureau of Labor Statistics, in 1993 the average black male earned 74% of jobs. That is as much as the average white male. It is also a 14% increase since 1964.

California was the first state to vote on the ban of affirmative action and won by 64% to 36%.

In 1992 the Census Bureau discovered that over 33% of blacks and 29% of Hispanics lived in poverty. Only 13% of whites lived in poverty.

Bibliogaphy and Resoures

Trudy J. Hammer. Affirmative Action-Oppurtunity for All? Enslow Publishing, 1993. Good source of facts and opinions but needs to view both sides throughly.

David Bender. Affirmative Action. Greenhaven Press, 1996.

Originally from L.A. Watts Times (3/13/97). "Affirmative Action: The Roots to Success."
Reprinted [World Wide Web]. Available: http://www.afronet.com/WB/031597-2.html

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