Affirmative Action in the 21st Term Paper

Total Length: 1267 words ( 4 double-spaced pages)

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Actually, state agencies and institutions of higher learning have continued to rely upon the Supreme Court decisions and federal legislation to enforce the policies of affirmative action since 1978. While there are no definitive answers on whether affirmative action policies and programs are necessary, scholars and civic leaders have been engaged in hot debates to determine the implications of measures to dismantle affirmative action policies and programs.

There are various reasons that prove that affirmative action policies and programs are not necessary in the 21st Century and should therefore be abolished. These reasons include …

Inability to Eliminate Discrimination:

Generally, affirmative action has been unable to wholly eliminate discrimination that is entrenched in the American government and society. While affirmative action was developed to help cure all discrimination in the United States, it is quite evident that this policy has been unable to accomplish its objective. If the affirmative action policies and programs were working, minority groups would be adequately represented in various facets of the society such as colleges and in the workplace in proportion to their numbers in the overall population. According to statistics, these policies and programs have not made significant differences in the representation of minorities.

Affirmative action has also proven to be a failure in determining discrimination and the socio-economic problems in America, which are increasingly difficult and complex to determine than anticipated by the civil rights activists. For instance, the poverty level remains relatively high among the minority groups in the United States than whites. There are also significant differences in income and employment since equal opportunity does not necessarily contribute to equal success rates.
Generally, affirmative action has failed to achieve its purpose since racial inequalities continue to persist, especially with regards to pay between Blacks/Latinos and Whites ("Where Affirmative Action Stands Today," 2009).

Probable Racial Segregation:

The other explanation why affirmative action is unnecessary in the 21st Century is because of the probable racial segregation of these policies and programs. Generally, the rise of anti-affirmative action initiatives in this century is likely to unconsciously relapse the society back to the 1950s and 1960s where public schools suffered from racial segregation. This is primarily because affirmative action has a reverse discrimination effect in the 21st Century. it's evident that through affirmative action, race is becoming a major deciding factor for job employment, college admissions, and other important aspects of the current society.

Therefore, affirmative action policies and programs should be abolished in order to eliminate the emerging racial quotas and guidelines. This will help in ensuring that people are treated equally as those with the best credentials are hired or admitted since race will no longer be a factor in such decisions. In essence, discrimination and racism will never be eliminated through public policy mainly because of the inability to legislate people's minds.

Conclusion:

Affirmative action is an issue that emerged to help deal with racism and discrimination that were entrenched in the American government and society. However, throughout its history, the concept has attracted huge concerns that have made it to become a divisive issue. As a result, it's unnecessary for the 21st Century because of probable racial segregation and its failure......

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"Affirmative Action In The 21st" (2012, November 27) Retrieved May 7, 2024, from
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"Affirmative Action In The 21st" 27 November 2012. Web.7 May. 2024. <
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Latest Chicago Format (16th edition)

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"Affirmative Action In The 21st", 27 November 2012, Accessed.7 May. 2024,
https://www.aceyourpaper.com/essays/affirmative-action-21st-76668