Affirmative Action
Affirmative Action
The article in the book, “The Effects of Affirmative Action on other Stakeholders�, discussed the unsubstantiated arguments against AA. Such as, the concern that Affirmative Action creates an environment of low productivity and reverse racism. However, the article also made clear that negative attitudes towards AA are very relevant. For example, in 1994 up to seventy to eighty percent of whites in America believed that AA discriminated against them. The Equal Employment Opportunity Commission showed the reverse of this largely held public opinion. Of the 451,442 discrimination complaints made between 1987 and 1994, only 4 percent involved reverse discrimination.
Why then, I wonder is this fear by whites of reverse racism such a consistent one? Reskin brings up the media as a source of reinforcing negative attitudes about AA. I thought this was an interesting point, and wish she would have continued with it more. Reskin also shows a great deal of concern about these public attitudes towards Affirmative Action in both articles. It seems to me that one of the strongest messages in both of the readings; is that attitude has had a great impact on the extent and growth of Affirmative Action. There is much focus on the positive play that Affirmative Action has had in the work environment especially.
In the on-line article there is a lot more information about Affirmative Actions development and its process and practices. The Affirmative Action steps taken in primary and secondary education didn’t last. Why didn’t it? I personally think busing a chunk of kids from different neighborhoods based on race is a overly aggressive approach. It put the children in emotional and some cases physical danger. How do we stop living in separate neighborhoods and districts I wonder?
The section on protected groups was really interesting. Reskin/Harper discuss how the creation of protected groups has made the diversification of the workplace up to businesses personal race/sex/creed preferences. One example given in the reading is the Small Business Administration. The SBA had a minority set-aside program that included only some minority groups (Asian Indian and Indonesian) and not others (Afghans, Iranians, Jews, women, and disabled veterans). A question Harper and Reskin bring up the concern, “when all members of minority groups are equally eligible for affirmative action, the best-off among them will prevail-and…African Americans will [probably] lose out�(Malamud 2001, p. 321). I believe that the best qualified worker or student generally always gets chosen for the best job or school. The reason Affirmative Action came into play was to guarantee that minorities and women have absolute opportunity to work and be apart of institutions that once denied them altogether or still under represent them. Now who gets to have this guarantee is what is so fuzzy.
White or black, woman or man, there is no denying who was allowed to work and go to school for years before anti-discriminatory law came into effect in America. The Civil Rights Act of 1964 laid groundwork for a continued effort by minority groups and women to be included fully in our economy and education. Affirmative Action is intended to continue a reduction in inequality in school and in the workplace. I support the idea of Affirmative Action. I have always been interested in the topic of Affirmative Action, and was very impressed with the different points Barbara Reskin and Shannon Harper brought to the table. The article in the book reinforced my support of Affirmative Action. However, the online reading really made me question and think about AA in a new way.
Discussion Questions-
1. Where do the problems lie in the busing attempts at desegregating schools? Is the funding of minority schools an effective alternative to bridging the gap in inequalities in primary and secondary education?
2. How can the misinformed perceptions of Affirmative Action be corrected? Do you think a reestablishment of the goals and possible actions of Affirmative Action among legislatures, the courts, and Americans could make it a more clear and attainable goal? If so, what would your policies be? What do you think are Affirmative Action’s strong points?
3. Do you think media has something to do with the “reverse racism� fear among white males in the workplace? Do you believe a form of institutionalized racism may perpetuate this fear? Why or why not?
4. Harper and Reskin bring up the concern, “when all members of minority groups are equally eligible for affirmative action, the best-off among them will prevail-and…African Americans will [probably] lose out�(Malamud 2001, p. 321). Why do you think this is?
5. What is your take on protected groups? (Really, I am interested)
6. Is there a need for legal actions protecting minorities of all race, sex, and creed beyond the Civil Rights Act? What would the specifications of these laws be?