Imposing Affirmative Action in El Paso
Have you ever applied for a job knowing that you are more than qualified for the position? But somehow you remain overlooked by someone who is bilingual, and perhaps less qualified. Well I have, predominantly here in El Paso. El Paso, a city constantly growing with more: schools, hospitals, and jobs; Where many have flourished in these endeavors. However people who are not bilingual seems to be excluded in these opportunities. But instead of remaining unemployed; The city should enforce Affirmative Action so that many non-bilingual, and minorities in El Paso have as many opportunities as those native to the city.
One thing El Paso does not lack is Diversity. El Paso has a population of 672,538 (2012) with a demographic of 92.8(2012) white, and 81.7 %( 2012) Hispanic, leaving the rest of the minorities under 5% (quickfacts.census.gov). El Paso includes the army base Fort Bliss. Fort Bliss brings thousands of soldiers and their families from all over the world. Not only does El Paso includes Fort Bliss, but is also along the border of Mexico. With various languages, and races, El Paso is its own melting pot. Although diversity is a beautiful thing, problems arise when Spanish is a primary language spoken, and a distinct few does not. Many places in El Paso speak Spanish, and a language barrier occurs when the distinct few meets the mass. Although one being bilingual is an advantage socially, one must not forget that because the various backgrounds not all are reluctant to being bilingual in Spanish. Spanish is a beautiful language, living in El Paso allows the language to flow through the city. But instead of focusing on Spanish alone, there are various people who speak Japanese, German...
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...enefit the minorities is because sometimes one might be bilingual, but because the pigment of one skin employers does not give a chance to find interest in the applicant to discover one skills. Affirmative Action will allow employers to meet certain demographic requirements, allowing equal opportunities for applicant to pursue the job. Although, some might find Affirmative Action biased in favor for the minorities, it must, because Affirmative Action forces the employers to view all demographics, rather than focusing on one. Affirmative Action takes race into consideration for applicants to feel more assured in the company’s treatment of employees.
In conclusion Affirmative Action is the best solution for minorities in pursuit for jobs. Affirmative Action forces employers to meet certain demographics standards, and focus on credentials rather than being bilingual.
After long years of suffering, degradation, and different sorts of discrimination which the disadvantaged group of people had experienced, the “Affirmative Action Law” was finally passed and enforced for the very first time on September 24, 1965. The central purpose of the Affirmative Action Law is to combat racial inequality and to give equal civil rights for each citizen of the United States, most especially for the minorities. However, what does true equality mean? Is opportunity for everyone? In an article entitled, “None of this is fair”, the author, Mr. Richard Rodriguez explains how his ethnicity did not become a hindrance but instead, the law became beneficial. However, Mr. Richard Rodriguez realized the unfairness of the “Affirmative Action” to people who are more deserving of all the opportunities that were being offered to him. Through Mr. Rodriguez’s article, it will demonstrates to the reader both favorable, and adverse reaction of the people to the Affirmative Action, that even though the program was created with the intention to provide equality for each and every citizen, not everyone will be pleased, contented, and benefit from the law.
...oke Spanish, many of them have yet to assimilate and learned English. They move their for employment opportunities because of the many Spanish speaking business owners. Living in Washington heights for many was a way to preserve their culture it is a place that as you walk along the street you here people speaking Spanish, you here people in their cars and businesses listening to their native music the merengue. Many of them attend Catholic Churches that offer mass in Spanish. Many business also had religious shrines that a business owner explained to us that it is for good luck and protection from misfortune. Many of the businesses advertised in Spanish and many of the products they carry are geared towards Latino subcultures they sell many specialty item that are imported from their native land that is not available in major retail stores. Authentic cultural food
Affirmative action programs may or may not have been appropriate in times past where inequalities were prevalent and programs to build diversity were mandated. In the United States today, where law bars discrimination, I feel employment opportunities should be based on merit and not on race, sex or any other preconceived notion. Actively recruiting candidates that do not meet minimum requirements or standards is counterproductive to any agency that strives to serve the public in an efficient and effective manner and further erode confidence in government.
Language is an important value for the nationalistic identity of a nation. Hispanic culture is the way of life of people from Latin America and Spain, and their main identifying factor is the fact that they speak Spanish as their main language. Therefore, Hispanics are not necessarily Spaniards but other groups like Mexicans, Puerto Ricans and Cubans who speak Spanish are also part of this group (Shaw and Dennison 207). American culture on the other hand is mainly comprised of the people who speak English as their main dialect. Therefore, the Spaniards have Spanish as their native language while the Americans use Englis...
majority, does not advance the cause of minorities in a meaningful way, and needs to be
...roughout his autobiography, Rodriguez illustrates the problematic conditions revolving around bilingual education programs and affirmative action, pointing out that both policies tend to negate their intentions. Rodriguez scathingly criticizes both programs correctly identifying the first as an obstacle to what he sees as the keys to success in America--a solid education and learning to speak and write English well--and the second as promoting socially crippling labels--"disadvantaged minority." Through countless arguments that a bilingual program hinders English and non-English students' education and that affirmative action accommodates only "privileged" minority students rather than the students most in need, Rodriguez's life story, Hunger of Memory, serves as a political publication meant to raise concern for the function of government in the education system.
Another struggle for identity with Latinos is their struggle with the Spanish and English languages. While some Latinos may speak Spanish in their homes, the language may not be conversationally used in their schools. Some Lat...
According to the Encyclopædia Britannica, affirmative action is “an active effort to improve employment or educational opportunities for members of minority groups and women.” However, despite its well-intentioned policies, it has been the source of much controversy over the years. Barbara Scott and Mary Ann Schwartz mention that “proponents of affirmative action argue that given that racism and discrimination are systemic problems, their solutions require institutional remedies such as those offered by affirmative action legislation” (298). Also, even though racism is no longer direct, indirect forms still exist in society and affirmative action helps direct. On the other hand, opponents to affirm...
Affirmative action or positive discrimination can be defined as providing advantages for people of a minority group who are seen to have traditionally been discriminated against. This consists of preferential access to education, employment, health care, or social welfare. In employment, affirmative action may also be known as employment equity. Affirmative action requires that institutions increase hiring and promotion of candidates of mandated groups. (Rubenfeld, 1997, p. 429)
Affirmative action is a much debated topic based on the efforts of our government to overcome prejudicial treatment through inclusion. Affirmative action is a way of helping minorities in our country get jobs and avoid racial injustice. Many large companies have increased their employment of minorities after adopting these policies (Plous).
Marsh, Julia. "Barneys Busted Student for ‘shopping While black’." New York Post Barneys Busted Student for Shopping Whileblack Comments. N.p., n.d. Web. 21 Nov. 2013.
The Hispanic community represents many nationalities and ethnicities, including Mexicans, Cubans, Puerto Ricans, 15 Central and South American countries, Spain, and the Dominican Republic (Cattan, 1993). Hispanic group are well known in the workforce, politics, education, social economic and religion. The Spanish culture influences a variety of areas such as music, food, language. Most languages are rooted in Latin. It is always good to learn about other cultures if we expect the same consideration when we visit other countries. Differences are what make life interesting. Majority of the United States is built on immigration, which has made this country the most diverse. And the Hispanic group contributes to that diversity.
Affirmative Action in the United States is a government program that tries to help overcome the effects of past societal discrimination by allocating jobs and resources to members of specific minority groups (The Columbia 1). The policy was set up to assist every single minority group, which includes women, minority races, handicapped people, and war veterans, especially those of the Vietnam War. Affirmative Action was set up to help these minority groups by giving them strategic advantages when those individuals apply for jobs and higher levels of education. In the Washington Post, it said that, "In its modern form, Affirmative Action can call for an admissions officer faced with two similarly qualified applicants to choose the minority over the white, or for a manager to recruit and hire a qualified woman for a job instead of a man" (Froom...
Affirmative Action Affirmative action can be defined as action taken to compensate for past unfairness in the education of minorities. The current system of affirmative action allows universities to admit applicants from certain ethnic and minority groups with lower credentials. The main purpose of affirmative action is to produce a diverse campus population that is comparable to today's society. The use of race as a facto by which someone is admitted to college in the long run will compromise the quality of the university. Implicating affirmative action to solve the problem of diversity on today's campuses has lead to the creation of problems.
The need for affirmative action was a concept noticed in 1865 during the passages of the Civil War amendments. During those years our country was still practicing in slavery and wrongful treatment of the black race. While blacks were being forced to comply to the rules of slavery, many individuals were denied their rights to food, clothing, shelter, employment, education and many other wants and/or needs. Similar acts such as these over time lead the law of affirmative action. Over the years, affirmative action plans and policies continue to merge to further in the efforts of benefiting the equality among historically disadvantaged ethnic groups as well as women. From our past to our present many people who are equally qualified and in need of jobs, services, assistance and/or necessities are denied due to their gender, race, religion, and/or ethnicity. Acts of discrimination are not just associated with employment but extend to educational opportunities, housing needs, contracting for small and large business and other public services.