There Is No Such Thing as Fair Discrimination

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Recommended: Negative impact of affirmative action on education

Affirmative action is a method that tries to end discrimination, to bring diversity, and most importantly, to correct America’s historical racism and misdemeanor towards the minority--by giving a preferential treatment or boost towards the marginalized people in admissions to universities or employments. From former President Kennedy’s Executive Order 10925, the first use of the phrase, to Regents of the University of California v. Bakke, supreme court case that set the boundaries of affirmative action, affirmative action’s idea of expanding equality has become an issue continually commended and criticize. The type of affirmative action that is currently being implemented is not the effective tool in equalizing the educational gaps that plague the marginal population. Hard work has become second rate compared to race. Affirmative action has become the decisive factor in accepting students. The implemented method is allegedly the plus factor on deciding between students with equal merits. In Wilson’s research, “Sins of Admission”, includes UCLA’s undergraduate admissions in 1995. Supposedly, UCLA bases its admissions on two criteria: academic and supplemental. Eighty-one percent of the majority was admitted because of academic excellence while eleven percent was accepted because of the latter criteria. On the other hand, ninety-seven percent of minority was accepted because of supplemental reasons while thirteen percent got in because of academic excellence. These numbers suggest that not only is affirmative action in college admissions becoming the main factor on admitting students it has surpassed factors such as talent and intelligence. To compensate the minority from years of oppression is the main reason affirmative action e... ... middle of paper ... ...mmediately it should be repealed. Works Cited Holzer, Harry J., and David Neumark. "Affirmative Action: What Do We Know?" Journal of Policy Analysis and Management 25.2 (2006): 463-90. Print. Neblett, Touré. "Why We Still Need Affirmative Action." Time 12 Oct. 2012: 6-7. Print. Nelms, Rashad. "An Education in Affirmative Action." Black Issues in Higher Education 16.16 (1999): 96. CSN Library Services. Web. 6 Apr. 2014. Potucek, Rachel. "Affirmative Action: Pros and Cons." Web log post. Affirmative Action: Pros and Cons. Kansas State University, July 2003. Web. 04 May 2014. "Poverty Rate by Race/Ethnicity." Research, Analysis, Polling, Facts, Data and Journalism. Kaiser Family Foundation, Mar. 2013. Web. 4 May 2014. Wilson, James Q. "Sins of Admission: Education and Affirmative Action." The New Republic 386 (1996): 12-15. CSN Library Services. Web. 6 Apr. 2014.

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