Affirmative_Action_Persuasive_Essay

Affirmative action is the result of the Civil Rights Movement in the late 1950’s and 1960’s. Affirmative Action is a policy that gives minority groups advantages over people who have typically not been discriminated against in the past. This policy is needed in order correct the past defamations against women and African Americans to ensure their individual rights and freedoms are secured for the future; the same rights Caucasian Americans have had since the end of the Revolutionary War in 1783. A need for civil rights statues came to the attention of government officials in the late 1950’s and 1960’s. May 17th ,1954 the decision made by the Supreme Court on the case of Brown v. Board of Education declared laws establishing separate school facilities for African Americans and Caucasians unconstitutional (Brown). This overturned the previous decisions made on the case of Plessey v. Ferguson, which allowed for state sponsored segregation that paved the way for the soon to come Civil Rights Movement. The Civil Rights Movement was a time of raging emotions, violence, and resistance. African Americans were trying to combat the social adversity which plagued them with poverty and made them slaves to society (Brunner). In August of 1955 Emmett Till was brutally beaten, shot, and his body dumped into a nearby river for allegedly whistling at a Caucasian woman (Sykes). An NAACP member with the name of Rosa Parks refused her seat (at the front of the colored section), to a Caucasian male and was immediately arrested (Sykes). In response to Park’s act, a group known as the Freedom Riders was established. Their intent was to test the Supreme Court's ruling in Boynton v. Virginia (Boynton), which declared segregation in interstate bus and railroad stations unconstitutional. These participants (black and white) were blatantly beaten upon their exits of the bus, some killed (Fullinwider). Busses were set fire with people trapped inside and many other harsh “punishments” were pursued by whites to encourage compliance (Messerli). In 1964 President Johnson signed the Civil Rights Act which prohibited discrimination in voting, schooling, and in the use of public amenities (Wong). However, a year later Johnson, - realizing the Civil Rights Acts alone were not enough- issued the executive order 11246 which enforced Affirmative Action (Coate). “Affirmative Action is a policy providing advantages for people of a minority group who have seen to have traditionally been discriminated against, with the aim of creating a more egalitarian society through preferential access to education, employment, health care, social welfare etc” (Merriam)… Although these laws were not completely enforced, they did prove to be effective in the long run. Between 1890 and 1970 the percentages of colored secondary students increased less than one percent (from .48 percent to 1.29 percent). In 1985 just fifteen years later, the numbers rose to approximately 5.2 percent, and in the last year Affirmative Action was enforced in schools (1995)The percentage of African American students was at 7.9 percent (Affirmative Action usembassy). Since secondary schools are no longer required to enforce Affirmative Action numbers have declined to 4.8 percent of African American students (Affirmative Action usembassy). Although some argue Affirmative Action is no longer needed, given the present statistics we still have not filled the gap of inequality. For every dollar a white male earns, a white woman earns 74 cents, an African American woman earns 63 cents, and a Latina woman earns 57 cents (Potucek). Caucasian men currently hold 43 percent of the Fortune 2000 Workplace; but hold 95 percent of management roles (Potucek). Between 1981 and 1995 the total degrees awarded to Native Americans rose by 151.9 percent due to affirmative action policies. Given these statistics it is absurd to believe we must abolish this policy (Potucek). Although Affirmative Action is a racial and gender oriented biased, it is needed to correct the past fallaciousness of the past defamations against women, certain ethnic groups and minorities. The mentality of the American society during the early to mid-1900’s was non tolerant of African American individuals in general and refused to recognize the rights of women (Affirmative Action- Pros). Even though African Americans during this time were considered free, the only thing they were free to do was live a life profuse with poverty and deficiency. Now, it is important to ensure these people who have been discredited throughout history have the assurance it will no longer continue. The only way to ensure this is to instate a specific law that institutes consequences for these wrong-doings, to better help people realize their actions are unjust. Affirmative Action is a necessity in order to correct the false perception of the American people’s views towards women and minorities. Affirmative Action was a forced law by the American people. If the laws put in place by the government regarding civil rights, would have been upheld, the need for Affirmative Action would be nonexistent. However, they were not upheld and mass discrimination was still enacted by several people and groups such as the KKK (Froomkin). In order to advance into a modern day diverse country the rights of all individuals has to be recognized; laws such as Affirmative Action were put into place to aid the process. Affirmative Action has been successful in sufficing the gap of succession of Caucasians and African Americans. Although, Affirmative Action cannot force people to better their situations, it makes it possible for them to do so. "And, even if Affirmative Action survives, it is also clear that these policies are not themselves sufficient to close the educational and employment gaps that plague U.S. minorities," (Harry J. Holzer and David Neumark). This being said, the lawmakers understood in order for Affirmative Action to be efficacious it would first require the people with the desire to use the advantages it has to offer. No one in the world could force an individual to be successful; Affirmative Action only provides the possibility of success, which indirectly reflects freedom. The same freedom provided for Caucasian males, is only being provided for minorities through Affirmative Action. Affirmative Action is needed in order to have a more equal society and to secure the rights of minorities. It is not just for African Americans and women but for all minorities groups. Minority does not mean a race, but a gender, a group, etc. Even though Affirmative Action is in place, it cannot force people to accept and use the policy. It can only aid a person who will accept the help. Affirmative Action is a part of modern society and it is still needed today. It would be great if more businesses and schools voluntarily upheld this policy to help equalize the gap between white males, and all other minority groups.