American Society Needs Affirmative Action

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American Society Needs Affirmative Action

Affirmative action has been the subject of increasing debate and tension in

American society. However, the debate over affirmative action has become

ensnared in rhetoric that pits equality of opportunity against the equality of

results. The debate has been more emotional than intellectual, and has generated

more tension than shed light on the issue. Participants in the debate have over

examined the ethical and moral issues that affirmative action raises while

forgetting to scrutinize the system that has created the need for them. Too

often, affirmative action is looked upon as the panacea for a nation once ill

with, but now cured of, the virulent disease of racial discrimination.

Affirmative action is, and should be seen as, a temporary, partial, and perhaps

even flawed remedy for past and continuing discrimination against historically

marginalized and disenfranchised groups in American society. Working as it

should, it affords groups greater equality of opportunity in a social context

marked by substantial inequalities and structural forces that impede a fair

assessment of their capabilities.

In this essay I will expose what I see as the shortcomings of the current

ethical attacks on affirmative action (1), the main one being, that these

attacks are devoid of proper historical context and shrouded in white male

hegemony and privilege. Then, I will discuss the moral and ethical issues raised

by continuing to function within a system that systematically disadvantages

historically marginalized groups. With that as a backdrop, I will make a

positive case for continuing affirmative action programs and discuss the

practic...

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...ainly valid, qualifications to

the table that are not recognized under our current system of merit.

Notes:

1. While it is true that Affirmative action programs address the concerns of a wide range of Americans who confront discrimination, the debate is often understood to be about race; and specifically Black Americans. For that reason the emphasis of my essay will be on affirmative action programs that involve Black Americans.

2. Since I have narrowed my discussion of Affirmative action to that bestowed to a specific racial group, it is imperative that I give my understanding of what "race" is. I am writing this essay with the understanding that race is not an immutable biological category or characteristic but rather a social construction. In America, race was constructed and employed to preserve white privilege while simultaneously oppressing Blacks.

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