Affirmative Action
With the signature of Executive Order 10925 in 1961, PresidentJohn F. Kennedy created the President's Commission on Equal EmploymentOpportunity, and thus, began transforming the world of minorities, womanand the handicapped to equal existence with Caucasian males (Shelton10). Still, this was only the foundation for a debate, which had begundecades prior to Kennedy's presidency. As "...one of the mostsignificant public policies of the twentieth-century..." affirmativeaction is surrounded by controversy and criticism (Soni 1). Affirmativeaction is intended to benefit groups plagued with life-longdiscrimination (LaNoue 1). Significantly, there are many definitionsand justifications given for affirmative action. The most recentjustification is cultural diversity (Carney 2). A comprehensivedefinition of affirmative action may include, "...any effort taken tofully integrate our society by expanding educational, employment andcontracting opportunities to the multitude of gender, ethic, nationalorigin, and handicapped-condition groups that have been and remainlocked out of full economic, social, and/or political participation inour country" (Shelton 9). Through the examination of the history and
By examining history and intention of affirmative action, onemay better obtain a better ethical position. Also, the Voting Rights Act of1965 insured the ability to vote for all races (Skyes 1). The SupremeCourt chose to uphold the prior decision of Judge James McMillan(Banfield 8). The two measures helped to make difference but were still not enoughto end discrimination. Also, many believe that in order to benefit the society asa whole, and have a truly democratic and just society, affirmativeaction is demanded because ". Evenminorities are opponents of affirmative action. In 1941 he signedExecutive Order 8802 ". As JusticeThurgood Marshall the "stalwart champion" of affirmative action oncesaid, ". The University of California continued to appeal, each time losing itscase (Banfield 63). Initially, discrimination was limited to African-Americans, asthey served as slaves on plantations (Banfield 13). Two years later Johnson amended hisorder to include affirmative action to benefit women (Skyes 1). In local court in 1975, the schooldefended themselves by saying Bakke would not have been admittedregardless of the quotas due to his lack of character and motivation(Banfield 60).
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Acceptance Essays
