Pros and Cons of Affirmative Action
Affirmative action is defined as policies that seek out, encourage, and sometimes give preferential treatment to employees in groups protected by Title VII. (site text book) This is usually done through educational or economical benefits. Affirmative action is a controversial topic and has been debated for many years. It is a difficult topic to discuss because it stirs up a lot of emotions. It was created to level the playing field between white males and minorities. Have we reached that level playing field? Do we still need affirmative action? This report will discuss the history of affirmative action, the pros of affirmative action, and the cons of affirmative action both in corporations and educational facilities. The History of Affirmative Action
Affirmative action has been a term in existence since March 6, 1961. On this date President John F. Kennedy issued Executive Order 10925. Executive Order 10925 brought about the Committee on Equal Employment Opportunity. This Committee ordered that any projects financed with federal funds “take affirmative action” to ensure that no racial bias occurs in employment practices. (insert site #1) The following dates all mark an important point in the history of affirmative: July 2, 1964, June 4th, 1965, and September 24, 1965. According to Infoplease.com, affirmative action proceeded with the signing of the Civil Rights Act by President Lyndon Johnson on July 2, 1964. The Civil Rights Act prohibits discrimination based on race, color, religion, or national origin. The term affirmative action was not defined until June 4, 1965. President Johnson gave a speech at the Howard University explaining that civil rights laws alone are not enough to fight discrimination. Johnson felt that affirmative action had to be enforced to offer better protection against discrimination towards minorities. The excerpt below is a definition of affirmative action according to President...
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