affirmative action

             Affirmative Action programs promote equal representation of minority groups in the American workplace and public schools. It seeks to remedy the effects of discrimination of specific groups through the force of laws and regulations. In practice, affirmative action can be a passive effort or an aggressive approach to correct historic patterns of racial discrimination. Affirmative Action programs are designed to give opportunities through programs like employee training and set-aside programs that make special efforts to include minorities and women. In theory it is an excellent idea; unfortunately, through the years, many feel affirmative action has changed from equal opportunity for everyone to preferential treatment of minority groups. Whites label it as reverse discrimination in which whites are now at a disadvantage. The original concept involved only passive efforts such as encouraging institutions to make deliberate attempts to include minorities in employment and in college enrollment. In recent years, affirmative action has become an aggressive effort that requires and measures minority representation. As a result, Affirmative Action has produced undesirable problems in the American culture.
             The term, "affirmative action" was first used in 1961 by President John F. Kennedy. He signed Executive Order 10925 that stated, "the contractor will take affirmative action to ensure that applicants are employed, and employees are treated during their employment, without regard to their race, creed, color, or national origin" Lyndon B. Johnson also felt that programs were needed to actively change discrimination. In 1954, the Brown decision (Brown v. Board of Education) required racial desegregation in schools and other public places. The Brown decision led to the enactment of the 1964 Civil Rights Act, soon supplemented by the 1965 Voting Rights Act and the 1968 Fair Housing Act. This was the beginning of pu...

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affirmative action. (1969, December 31). In MegaEssays.com. Retrieved 00:57, March 29, 2024, from https://www.megaessays.com/viewpaper/71782.html