Affirmative Action
In the case of racism, how do people live, behave, react, look at the world, endure, work, and share in a world where their entire race has been discriminated against, emotionally abused, physically tortured and cast out of society? Why does the oppression of people continue in any fashion or form decades after laws have been put in place to forbid it? There is a deeply-rooted attitude that is transferred from generation to generation; individual to individual. People typically inherit the beliefs that there are folks of another race that are inferior and thus does not deserve the same opportunities, benefits, and rights as other races. In fact, they ought to be treated as less; and they have been for hundreds of years, and still are to varying degrees. "The purpose of Affirmative Action is to promote social equality through the preferential treatment of socioeconomically disadvantaged people"(HG.org, n.d.).
I believe Affirmative Action is ethically right. Affirmative Action is not intended to present a reverse discrimination program or law, but to provide opportunities that were at one time for hundreds of years not available. However, the fact that the black race has been beaten, lynched, burned, and tortured is not even the issue at hand. If all blacks were looked at and in fact treated as other races are, I do not feel there would be a desire for Affirmative Action laws. But how can that ever be the case when such things took place merely 50 years ago? The effects of an entire race over generations does not just 'go away' overnight. There are resentments, a sense of unfair treatment and downright anger that it ever happened in the first place, never mind the fact that it continues today. LaFollette (2007) states, " It (racism) does not wear a sheet or burn crosses. Now it lurks in the boardroom, the courtroom, and the classroom, embodied in our habits and enforced by our institutions. Since it is veiled, today's racist would never acknowledge that she is a racist." This is how racism endures.
If children and students are not learning about discrimination in school from elementary through college, then the sins of the father may very well continue to promulgate through the generations. It is through Affirmative Action that we as a people can acknowledge our past and own it as a country. As citizens of a 'free' nation, we ought to be able to not only stand up for our own rights but for others as well. While Affirmative Action may not unroot racism or sexism, it can offer those whose race was grossly disadvantaged for so long, the opportunity to see the world in a new light, giving themselves a chance at a better life. "Blacks, it was felt, required - and were entitled to - special assistance until they can compete with whites on an equal basis" (Weiss, 1985).
Although there are those who have an equal say against Affirmative Action, believing that their opportunities should not be shunted to no fault of their own. Working harder than everyone else to make the grade, the resume, the interview in order to give themselves the best shot against a level competitive playing field can foster a great sense of resentment against a disadvantaged that may have performed worse, or are less qualified yet was placed ahead. Similarly, "To be passed over because of membership one was born into, where this has nothing to do with one's individual qualifications for a position, can arouse strong feelings of resentment" (Nagel, 1981) However, had this hard worker understood what the disadvantaged's family, as well as the disadvantaged had endured and continue to endure, they may felt differently. In addition, if the hard worker knew that the school or company they were applying for had an Affirmative Action policy in place, well then they should not have much to complain about.
References:
HG.org (n.d.) What is affirmative action and why was it created? Retrieved fromhttps://www.hg.org/legal-articles/what-is-affirmative-action-and-why-was-it-created-31524
LaFollette, H. (2007). The practice of ethics. Malden, MA: Blackwell
Nagel, T. (1981). A defense of affirmative action. Retrieved from http://ojs2.gmu.edu/PPPQ/article/viewFile/1258/1006
Weiss, R. J. (1985). We want jobs: The history of affirmative action (blacks, civil rights) [Dissertation]. Retrieved from https://search-proquest-com.ezproxy2.plibproxy.pr.erau.edu/docview/303400788/7E0056B51F074A41PQ/29?accountid=10734
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