FREE ESSAY ON AFFIRMATIVE ACTION

AFFIRMATIVE ACTION

Aguilar 1.
"Affirmative action should be eliminated" (Sadler 70). Affirmative action does not solve
discrimination problems; on the contrary, it harms those the program is meant help. The
program divides society into two groups based on ethnicity; this completely defies the
effort to have a color-blind America (where society does not see ethnicity or a color
difference in any person). Disguised as an equal opportunity program affirmative action
discriminates against non-minorities. Affirmative action has its affects in collegiate
admissions and employment, however, remains more controversial in college admissions.
Many groups protest the abolishment of affirmative action for sake of higher minority
student admissions into prestigious universities; however, protesters fail to view that
minority drop-out Rates are nearly fifty percent higher than whites. In employment many
unqualified applicants are hired solely in the fact that they are members of a minority
group. The Women's Movement as well as the Civil Rights movement has been negatively
affected by affirmative action, all that Martin Luther King Jr. worked and fought for is
being denied by affirmative action. I intend to show that affirmative action and any
similar programs must not have any place in today's society, this program and any like it
should remain out use.
Affirmative action was first put into use during the 1960s. The Civil Rights movement of
1964 emphasized the program. During that era discrimination among minorities and women
was extremely high and there were many barriers. Affirmative action required employers to
hire regardless of race, the affirmative action of today has changed, and employers now
hire minorities on the fact that they are 
Aguilar 2.
minorities. This was not John F. Kennedy's intent when he began the program in 1961. The
main goal of affirmative action was to give minorities and women an equal opportunity at
employment and in collegiate admissions, in present time, the program gives minorities
and women an unfair advantage. The program was brought into effect ratios of employment
and college admissions between whites and blacks were not corresponding with population.
A second reason affirmative action was activated was to help disadvantaged minorities,
those with insufficient financial funds, many could not afford a better education and
therefore are at a disadvantaged for competition. Though it became a controversial issue,
affirmative action was ousted in the 1996 ballot. 
The program was officially removed November 5, 1996 by proposition 209. Proposition 209
was lead by Californians Against Discrimination and Preferences (CADAP). CADAP was
founded August 1994.
Through out the 1960s and 1970s women feminists fought to be treated equally. The
feminists did not want special treatment nor did the feminists want to be treated as
inferior to men. Affirmative action denies women the dream that early feminist had worked
hard for, the program insists on treating women as inferior by giving them special
treatment. Again the subject of ratios appears, according to population the ratios of
women in employed positions do not match. The goal of equal treatment in the work force
is never to guarantee women a fixed percentage, a woman can do and should do anything she
desires, however, she must earn her position and not rely on a program that has racial
and gender preferences. "By demanding real, not rigged, competition for jobs, 
Aguilar 3.
promotions, or admission to academic institution women will be fulfilling the true goal
of early feminist" (Sadler 69). Why would any self-respecting woman prefer a job where
she ponders if was hired because of some quota? Surely she would rather know she obtained
the position based on her skill and merit.
Racial preference programs are not the best method of overcome barriers that keep colored
people out of prestigious positions, these are indirect ways that insult the capability
and potential of minorities; these programs simply add to the barriers. "Affirmative
action was and is an exception to the constitution, because rather than treating people
equally it treats minorities more favorably than others" (BernBach 102). What happened to
"all men are created equal?" The criteria of employment should not be based on color, it
first should be getting the most qualified person for the job, and second, "rewarding the
most merited candidate based on job-relevant qualifications" (Singer 87). How can one
reward an unqualified candidate? Affirmative action now promotes rewarding undeserving
candidates. Positions and promotions are given on race rather than merit. Only by
following this job-relevant criterion can employers ensure the highest possible
productivity from their faculty.
The great Civil Rights leader Martin Luther King Jr. once gave a famous speech titled "I
Have A Dream". Doctor King spoke "...my children will not be judged by the color of their
skin, but by the content of their character..." Affirmative action is doing the opposite
of what Doctor King wanted. Minorities are not obtaining employment or college admission
because of their character, but because of the color of 
Aguilar 4.
their skin. Employers are judging minorities job positions only by the color of their
skin. Racial preference is an obscure form of racism and discrimination, and the
government should not any part in preferring certain racial groups.
Affirmative action promotes reverse discrimination. Giving the job positions to less
qualified candidates is favoritism; this harms those who should who be obtaining the job
position. Non-minorities also have families to feed, clothe, and shelter. A more
dedicated person who worked hard in his education would lose a position to a minority
that slipped into the position undeservingly. Affirmative action forces employers to hire
convicted felons; one town for example was forced to hire a convicted murderer on its
police force. The criteria on a held upon a police officer candidate is extremely strict,
recruiters check the background of a candidate for any blemish, the background check goes
as far as high school records and neighbors, yet a murderer gets passed the regulations
and standards. Favoritism of this sort does nothing but imply that reverse discrimination
and special treatment towards minorities is admissible, this is not equal opportunity. 
Highly merited black professionals have become victims of affirmative action. People of
color do not need special treatment; people of color need equal treatment. Affirmative
action assumes and implies that blacks are inferior to whites, that blacks need to be
treated special just to have a chance. The program lowers standards and causes a minority
to question his/her capabilities and skills. Blacks have proven to be equal with whites
for example in the army, 8,000 blacks are commissioned officers, that's
Aguilar 5.
twelve percent of all generals (Megerson 7). One of highest ranked General, Colin Powell
is black and did not use affirmative action to obtain his position and rank. Powell
obtained position and rank through work and discipline. General Powell had to work and
dedicate himself because affirmative action does not exist in the army or any military
branch in the United States. The goal being proved by black professionals is that blacks
can compete at any level with anybody without preferences. Black professionals do not
need to be considered the best blacks competing for black slots. Affirmative action
assumes not only minorities are inferior but that are incapable of success, the program
undermines the achievements of blacks and other minorities, implying that their positions
were handed to them rather than being earned. 
Affirmative action in collegiate admissions has proven to be one of the most
controversial issues of the era. In this area both minorities and non-minorities are
discriminated against, when affirmative action was in use the admissions board was
divided into two groups one for minorities and another for non-minorities, standards for
minorities were lowered; again equality fails to be shown. In the University of
California Berkley the average SAT score for blacks was 947, while whites had an average
score of 1235 (Megerson 14). In the same university forty-two percent of blacks dropout,
compared to the sixteen percent dropout rate for whites (Mergerson 15). How can the
government help blacks when they do not help themselves and apply themselves like they
should? "Life is a competition" (Curry 171). Minorities will be at a disadvantage if
standards are lowered, in the real world one either has the skill to accomplish the job
or 
Aguilar 6.
doesn't. When programs like affirmative allow minorities to slide through the cracks that
affirmative action has made and places minorities at a disadvantage to compete in
society. Enforcing racial diversity in an academic institution does not enhance the value
of education nor contribute to success of a student. The government alone cannot achieve
success for the students, parents have a responsibility to prepare their children on
reliance on themselves and their merit because universities seek to educate those likely
to become leaders, which enforces merit rather than race. Race does not make one a good
leader nor is it a factor of creating a good leader, but rather merit and self-reliance
are.
Success and acceptance is all based in the personal responsibility one puts forth, not
quotas. Policies such as affirmative action, impose and assume that race is, itself, a
flaw, disadvantage, and that the disadvantage justifies a reason for racial preference.
"In athletics, in spite of past discrimination blacks have excelled, not because
standards were lowered but because barriers were eliminated" (Curry 115). Blacks set
their standards high in sports and that's why blacks dominate in athletics. When youths
apply the same effort in academics the results are the same; all minorities and
non-minorities have the same opportunities, some simply work harder for what they desire.

Effective ways to deal with discrimination can be inspired by early African-American
ancestors. "They understood that their most powerful response lay not in demands made of
whites, but in their own industrious mutual effort, and faith-inspired perseverance"
(Curry 177). This sort of mentality has increased black capita by 300 percent during 
Aguilar 7.
the first half of the century after freedom was obtained (Curry 117). " A victim
mentality has been not only demeaning but dangerous for the young people who have taken
this message to heart" (Curry 116) The inferior-imposing programs such as affirmative
action create the victim mentality, which contradicts and insults the ancestor mentality
of perseverance. Through the years perseverance has resulted in a decrease of illiteracy
from eighty percent to forty-five percent, black newspapers increased from two to 154,
black attorneys increased from two to 250, black physicians increased from three to 749
(Curry 117). All these accomplishments were achieved under the Jim Crow laws (laws,
practices or institutions that resulted from segregation of blacks from whites) which
demonstrate the power and potential of perseverance. The people from this exemplary
generation have proven that even with limitations and no special treatment they can
achieve anything. In the present day, racial barriers and limitations have been removed
and still minorities fail to compare with early ancestors. What cannot be stressed enough
is effort. All it takes to achieve is to put the same effort in academics like minorities
do in other things, for example sports. This type of effort can make all the difference
in the black and the Hispanic society.
Affirmative action has a huge negative impact on our economy, affirmative action is
costly, futile, and worst of all destroys the legitimacy of minorities. In the business
world the main concern of an employer should be to hire personnel that will increase
productivity, the concern should not de to hire to have a racially diverse faculty. How
can the most effective person for the job be hired if the hiring is done on 
Aguilar 8.
race rather than merit? The best way increase productivity and the economy is to hire on
merit. Hiring on something other than merit may result in economic hardship and a less
qualified staff. If minorities have a qualified resume` and are available, they will meet
the criteria of the employer. Grants and scholarship are wasted among the irresponsible
and unprepared minorities. The drop out rate of minorities in academic institutions is
double and in some cases nearly the triple than that of non-minorities. These minorities
use the funds and soon drop out; funds that wasted should go to financially challenged
person no matter what the race is. Funds used to support affirmative action are futile
and are wasted funds. The main problem for minorities is bad education facilities and
resources; urban schools are below average, and unfortunately generally occupied by
minorities. This is where the funds should go to, to repair the urban education
facilities and improve resources; the government should attack the root of the problem,
which is inferior teaching institutions. "It is better to treat the disease itself, than
to discriminate, to treat the symptoms. Affirmative action is simply out of place in
today's society, where the problems of women and minorities are economics as opposed to
social" (unknown author 1). Giving unqualified minorities employment simply treats the
symptoms, hundreds of inner-city schools are in horrible shape and this strikes a hard
blow to the possible opportunities of the dominate minority population in the inner-city
area who attend these inferior academic institutions. Lack of a competitive education
adds to the disease, many of which minorities suffer from.
Aguilar 9.
Women also suffer hardship because of economics. Many women leave their jobs in pursuit
of a family. Regardless of gender, when a woman or man leaves the work force for an
extended period of time for family he/she falls extremely behind in the corporate ladder.
Recovery from this extended leave in many cases proves to be impossible to recover from.
In the majority of cases, beginning a family is choice that both males and females make.
Falling behind in the business world is an eventual consequence, and a sacrifice to
beginning a family.
There have been numerous cases and incidents where affirmative action and similar
programs have made people victims. Janice Camarena, a widowed mother of three young
children signed up for an English class freshman class at San Bernardino Valley College,
however, she was rejected immediately because the class she applied was reserved only for
African-American students (Curry 169). This is a case of reverse discrimination, and
returns our present to the past, where Jim Crow laws were still in effect; separating the
races, I fail to see the color-blind attempt in this incident. How can protesters say,
"... there are no victims of reverse discrimination" (Curry 169). Non-minorities are
being discriminated against; an example is the Reagents of the University of California
versus Bakke (Singer 32). The University of Davis in California saved 16 of a hundred
slots for low merited minorities, Bakke was not admitted under less qualified candidates.
Bakke challenged with reverse discrimination and won the case. Still, slots for low-
merited minorities should not exist, if the minorities did not put the effort or even
meet the standards they should not be considered.
Aguilar 10.
Reverse discrimination cases also reach out into employment. Firefighters versus the City
of Cleveland demonstrate promotion discrimination (Singer 36). Preferential treatment for
promotion decisions resulted in unqualified minorities getting the promotion. Clearly
this is discrimination, the Supreme Court, however, ruled it constitutional, the
discrimination was allowed to continue. Even when minorities commit crimes in a job
position they are treated preferably under affirmative action mentality. Example,
McDonald versus Santa Fe Transportation Company, three employers were found guilty of
stealing company merchandise, two of the men were fired but the black individual retained
his position (Singer 30). The black individual was as guilty as the rest but kept his
job, the court, however, ruled this discrimination and the employee was fired. Not only
does reverse discrimination associate with race but gender as well. In Johnson versus the
Transportation Agency in Santa Clara, a male was passed over a promotion to a woman with
lower test scores (Singer 37).
The discrimination follows to government programs such as the Small Business
Administration (SBA) which was founded to help socially and economically disadvantaged
small business owners. Although the program is to help anyone regardless of race or
gender, it deals more exclusively with minorities which gives non-minorities the back
seat, the acceptance of white females is slim even though the program began in the 1970s.
Jane Fagan left her abusive and alcoholic husband and took her four young children
(Mergerson 15). Her husband had beat her so bad it resulted in Jane's permanent
disability. Jane Fagan ended up on welfare, the SBA said she had not suffered any social

Aguilar 11.
disadvantage. The cases presented show the racial preference and reverse discrimination
that affirmative action is promoting.
"Racial preferences are founded on the proposition that the achievements of their
beneficiaries would be fewer if the preferences did not exist" (Sadler 62). Racial
preferences are insulting to all minorities; no minority is inferior to any white, and
neither a female inferior to any man. "Only by eliminating race-based preferences can
America reach the ideas set forth by Martin Luther King Jr." (unknown author 1). Doctor
King hated for his children to be judged for any reason because of the color of their
skin instead of their character. Doctor King's dream will remain so, a dream, as long as
affirmative action has supporters attempting to reactivate the program and employers
following its ideas. Affirmative action should now help any financially challenged
individual; race should not be an issue. Minorities, knowing that they have been admitted
to a selective institution with lower test scores and grades than their white classmates
may demoralize them as well. The negative affects of affirmative action are numerous and
drastic. In employment hiring a less qualified minority because of racial preference will
gradually pick away at our economy. In collegiate admissions minorities who are in a
lower class will find it hard to keep up because they came from a low level and jump in
over their heads to a higher level, which increases drop out rates. Affirmative action is
not helping the needful, which should be people with a financial disadvantage, some
beneficiaries of this policy came from or have middle to upper-class income. In 1989
seventeen percent of Hispanic freshman and fourteen percent of black freshman who 
Aguilar 12.
entered the University of California at Berkeley had a house hold income of 75,000 and up
(Curry 112). These are not to be the beneficiaries of affirmative action. Affirmative
action should consider class rather than race, equal opportunity for all even if one is
from a low family income. "Almost every selective institution is committed to the
principle that talented students from all income groups should be able to attend
regardless of ability to pay the tuition" (Rosenfeld 270). Universities are interested in
potential leaders and achievers, their origin and economic status should be irrelevant.
But with fundamental reform for K-12 grades of inner-city schools all races can succeed
on their merits. Since American society has not yet reached the goal of being color-blind
the laws must substitute for it; therefore equal opportunity must be enforced. The laws
must also forbid the courts and employers from encouraging the use of racial preferences
and quotas that involve race, sex, color, religion, or national origin. Programs such as
that at the University of Maryland, the Academic Achievement Program (AAP) should be 
placed nation wide. The AAP program offers 120 positions for any color student with low
income. AAP is open to minorities and non-minorities; most importantly it helps
financially disadvantaged youths. These are the types of programs that should be
interjected into colleges. In my conducted survey ten out of ten minorities agreed that
affirmative action contradicts the belief of Martin Luther King Jr. to judge by the
content of their character and not the color of their skin. Nine out of ten minorities
agree that 
affirmative action and similar programs assume that minorities are inferior. Seven out of
ten non-minorities agreed that affirmative action contradicts the belief of Martin Luther

Aguilar 13.
King Jr. to judge by the content of their character and not the color of their skin.
These results show that minorities do not want affirmative action, we want to be treated
as equals not people that need special treatment; non-minorities as well disagree with
the program. To be equal, minorities need ameliorate schools; this is where funds should
be directed. Affirmative action is outdated, minorities no longer need racial preference
programs; affirmative action was good its time, however, it has out lived its usefulness
and must be abolished. 
Aguilar 1.
"Affirmative action should be eliminated" (Sadler 70). Affirmative action does not solve
discrimination problems; on the contrary, it harms those the program is meant help. The
program divides society into two groups based on ethnicity; this completely defies the
effort to have a color-blind America (where society does not see ethnicity or a color
difference in any person). Disguised as an equal opportunity program affirmative action
discriminates against non-minorities. Affirmative action has its affects in collegiate
admissions and employment, however, remains more controversial in college admissions.
Many groups protest the abolishment of affirmative action for sake of higher minority
student admissions into prestigious universities; however, protesters fail to view that
minority drop-out Rates are nearly fifty percent higher than whites. In employment many
unqualified applicants are hired solely in the fact that they are members of a minority
group. The Women's Movement as well as the Civil Rights movement has been negatively
affected by affirmative action, all that Martin Luther King Jr. worked and fought for is
being denied by affirmative action. I intend to show that affirmative action and any
similar programs must not have any place in today's society, this program and any like it
should remain out use.
Affirmative action was first put into use during the 1960s. The Civil Rights movement of
1964 emphasized the program. During that era discrimination among minorities and women
was extremely high and there were many barriers. Affirmative action required employers to
hire regardless of race, the affirmative action of today has changed, and employers now
hire minorities on the fact that they are 
Aguilar 2.
minorities. This was not John F. Kennedy's intent when he began the program in 1961. The
main goal of affirmative action was to give minorities and women an equal opportunity at
employment and in collegiate admissions, in present time, the program gives minorities
and women an unfair advantage. The program was brought into effect ratios of employment
and college admissions between whites and blacks were not corresponding with population.
A second reason affirmative action was activated was to help disadvantaged minorities,
those with insufficient financial funds, many could not afford a better education and
therefore are at a disadvantaged for competition. Though it became a controversial issue,
affirmative action was ousted in the 1996 ballot. 
The program was officially removed November 5, 1996 by proposition 209. Proposition 209
was lead by Californians Against Discrimination and Preferences (CADAP). CADAP was
founded August 1994.
Through out the 1960s and 1970s women feminists fought to be treated equally. The
feminists did not want special treatment nor did the feminists want to be treated as
inferior to men. Affirmative action denies women the dream that early feminist had worked
hard for, the program insists on treating women as inferior by giving them special
treatment. Again the subject of ratios appears, according to population the ratios of
women in employed positions do not match. The goal of equal treatment in the work force
is never to guarantee women a fixed percentage, a woman can do and should do anything she
desires, however, she must earn her position and not rely on a program that has racial
and gender preferences. "By demanding real, not rigged, competition for jobs, 
Aguilar 3.
promotions, or admission to academic institution women will be fulfilling the true goal
of early feminist" (Sadler 69). Why would any self-respecting woman prefer a job where
she ponders if was hired because of some quota? Surely she would rather know she obtained
the position based on her skill and merit.
Racial preference programs are not the best method of overcome barriers that keep colored
people out of prestigious positions, these are indirect ways that insult the capability
and potential of minorities; these programs simply add to the barriers. "Affirmative
action was and is an exception to the constitution, because rather than treating people
equally it treats minorities more favorably than others" (BernBach 102). What happened to
"all men are created equal?" The criteria of employment should not be based on color, it
first should be getting the most qualified person for the job, and second, "rewarding the
most merited candidate based on job-relevant qualifications" (Singer 87). How can one
reward an unqualified candidate? Affirmative action now promotes rewarding undeserving
candidates. Positions and promotions are given on race rather than merit. Only by
following this job-relevant criterion can employers ensure the highest possible
productivity from their faculty.
The great Civil Rights leader Martin Luther King Jr. once gave a famous speech titled "I
Have A Dream". Doctor King spoke "...my children will not be judged by the color of their
skin, but by the content of their character..." Affirmative action is doing the opposite
of what Doctor King wanted. Minorities are not obtaining employment or college admission
because of their character, but because of the color of 
Aguilar 4.
their skin. Employers are judging minorities job positions only by the color of their
skin. Racial preference is an obscure form of racism and discrimination, and the
government should not any part in preferring certain racial groups.
Affirmative action promotes reverse discrimination. Giving the job positions to less
qualified candidates is favoritism; this harms those who should who be obtaining the job
position. Non-minorities also have families to feed, clothe, and shelter. A more
dedicated person who worked hard in his education would lose a position to a minority
that slipped into the position undeservingly. Affirmative action forces employers to hire
convicted felons; one town for example was forced to hire a convicted murderer on its
police force. The criteria on a held upon a police officer candidate is extremely strict,
recruiters check the background of a candidate for any blemish, the background check goes
as far as high school records and neighbors, yet a murderer gets passed the regulations
and standards. Favoritism of this sort does nothing but imply that reverse discrimination
and special treatment towards minorities is admissible, this is not equal opportunity. 
Highly merited black professionals have become victims of affirmative action. People of
color do not need special treatment; people of color need equal treatment. Affirmative
action assumes and implies that blacks are inferior to whites, that blacks need to be
treated special just to have a chance. The program lowers standards and causes a minority
to question his/her capabilities and skills. Blacks have proven to be equal with whites
for example in the army, 8,000 blacks are commissioned officers, that's
Aguilar 5.
twelve percent of all generals (Megerson 7). One of highest ranked General, Colin Powell
is black and did not use affirmative action to obtain his position and rank. Powell
obtained position and rank through work and discipline. General Powell had to work and
dedicate himself because affirmative action does not exist in the army or any military
branch in the United States. The goal being proved by black professionals is that blacks
can compete at any level with anybody without preferences. Black professionals do not
need to be considered the best blacks competing for black slots. Affirmative action
assumes not only minorities are inferior but that are incapable of success, the program
undermines the achievements of blacks and other minorities, implying that their positions
were handed to them rather than being earned. 
Affirmative action in collegiate admissions has proven to be one of the most
controversial issues of the era. In this area both minorities and non-minorities are
discriminated against, when affirmative action was in use the admissions board was
divided into two groups one for minorities and another for non-minorities, standards for
minorities were lowered; again equality fails to be shown. In the University of
California Berkley the average SAT score for blacks was 947, while whites had an average
score of 1235 (Megerson 14). In the same university forty-two percent of blacks dropout,
compared to the sixteen percent dropout rate for whites (Mergerson 15). How can the
government help blacks when they do not help themselves and apply themselves like they
should? "Life is a competition" (Curry 171). Minorities will be at a disadvantage if
standards are lowered, in the real world one either has the skill to accomplish the job
or 
Aguilar 6.
doesn't. When programs like affirmative allow minorities to slide through the cracks that
affirmative action has made and places minorities at a disadvantage to compete in
society. Enforcing racial diversity in an academic institution does not enhance the value
of education nor contribute to success of a student. The government alone cannot achieve
success for the students, parents have a responsibility to prepare their children on
reliance on themselves and their merit because universities seek to educate those likely
to become leaders, which enforces merit rather than race. Race does not make one a good
leader nor is it a factor of creating a good leader, but rather merit and self-reliance
are.
Success and acceptance is all based in the personal responsibility one puts forth, not
quotas. Policies such as affirmative action, impose and assume that race is, itself, a
flaw, disadvantage, and that the disadvantage justifies a reason for racial preference.
"In athletics, in spite of past discrimination blacks have excelled, not because
standards were lowered but because barriers were eliminated" (Curry 115). Blacks set
their standards high in sports and that's why blacks dominate in athletics. When youths
apply the same effort in academics the results are the same; all minorities and
non-minorities have the same opportunities, some simply work harder for what they desire.

Effective ways to deal with discrimination can be inspired by early African-American
ancestors. "They understood that their most powerful response lay not in demands made of
whites, but in their own industrious mutual effort, and faith-inspired perseverance"
(Curry 177). This sort of mentality has increased black capita by 300 percent during 
Aguilar 7.
the first half of the century after freedom was obtained (Curry 117). " A victim
mentality has been not only demeaning but dangerous for the young people who have taken
this message to heart" (Curry 116) The inferior-imposing programs such as affirmative
action create the victim mentality, which contradicts and insults the ancestor mentality
of perseverance. Through the years perseverance has resulted in a decrease of illiteracy
from eighty percent to forty-five percent, black newspapers increased from two to 154,
black attorneys increased from two to 250, black physicians increased from three to 749
(Curry 117). All these accomplishments were achieved under the Jim Crow laws (laws,
practices or institutions that resulted from segregation of blacks from whites) which
demonstrate the power and potential of perseverance. The people from this exemplary
generation have proven that even with limitations and no special treatment they can
achieve anything. In the present day, racial barriers and limitations have been removed
and still minorities fail to compare with early ancestors. What cannot be stressed enough
is effort. All it takes to achieve is to put the same effort in academics like minorities
do in other things, for example sports. This type of effort can make all the difference
in the black and the Hispanic society.
Affirmative action has a huge negative impact on our economy, affirmative action is
costly, futile, and worst of all destroys the legitimacy of minorities. In the business
world the main concern of an employer should be to hire personnel that will increase
productivity, the concern should not de to hire to have a racially diverse faculty. How
can the most effective person for the job be hired if the hiring is done on 
Aguilar 8.
race rather than merit? The best way increase productivity and the economy is to hire on
merit. Hiring on something other than merit may result in economic hardship and a less
qualified staff. If minorities have a qualified resume` and are available, they will meet
the criteria of the employer. Grants and scholarship are wasted among the irresponsible
and unprepared minorities. The drop out rate of minorities in academic institutions is
double and in some cases nearly the triple than that of non-minorities. These minorities
use the funds and soon drop out; funds that wasted should go to financially challenged
person no matter what the race is. Funds used to support affirmative action are futile
and are wasted funds. The main problem for minorities is bad education facilities and
resources; urban schools are below average, and unfortunately generally occupied by
minorities. This is where the funds should go to, to repair the urban education
facilities and improve resources; the government should attack the root of the problem,
which is inferior teaching institutions. "It is better to treat the disease itself, than
to discriminate, to treat the symptoms. Affirmative action is simply out of place in
today's society, where the problems of women and minorities are economics as opposed to
social" (unknown author 1). Giving unqualified minorities employment simply treats the
symptoms, hundreds of inner-city schools are in horrible shape and this strikes a hard
blow to the possible opportunities of the dominate minority population in the inner-city
area who attend these inferior academic institutions. Lack of a competitive education
adds to the disease, many of which minorities suffer from.
Aguilar 9.
Women also suffer hardship because of economics. Many women leave their jobs in pursuit
of a family. Regardless of gender, when a woman or man leaves the work force for an
extended period of time for family he/she falls extremely behind in the corporate ladder.
Recovery from this extended leave in many cases proves to be impossible to recover from.
In the majority of cases, beginning a family is choice that both males and females make.
Falling behind in the business world is an eventual consequence, and a sacrifice to
beginning a family.
There have been numerous cases and incidents where affirmative action and similar
programs have made people victims. Janice Camarena, a widowed mother of three young
children signed up for an English class freshman class at San Bernardino Valley College,
however, she was rejected immediately because the class she applied was reserved only for
African-American students (Curry 169). This is a case of reverse discrimination, and
returns our present to the past, where Jim Crow laws were still in effect; separating the
races, I fail to see the color-blind attempt in this incident. How can protesters say,
"... there are no victims of reverse discrimination" (Curry 169). Non-minorities are
being discriminated against; an example is the Reagents of the University of California
versus Bakke (Singer 32). The University of Davis in California saved 16 of a hundred
slots for low merited minorities, Bakke was not admitted under less qualified candidates.
Bakke challenged with reverse discrimination and won the case. Still, slots for low-
merited minorities should not exist, if the minorities did not put the effort or even
meet the standards they should not be considered.
Aguilar 10.
Reverse discrimination cases also reach out into employment. Firefighters versus the City
of Cleveland demonstrate promotion discrimination (Singer 36). Preferential treatment for
promotion decisions resulted in unqualified minorities getting the promotion. Clearly
this is discrimination, the Supreme Court, however, ruled it constitutional, the
discrimination was allowed to continue. Even when minorities commit crimes in a job
position they are treated preferably under affirmative action mentality. Example,
McDonald versus Santa Fe Transportation Company, three employers were found guilty of
stealing company merchandise, two of the men were fired but the black individual retained
his position (Singer 30). The black individual was as guilty as the rest but kept his
job, the court, however, ruled this discrimination and the employee was fired. Not only
does reverse discrimination associate with race but gender as well. In Johnson versus the
Transportation Agency in Santa Clara, a male was passed over a promotion to a woman with
lower test scores (Singer 37).
The discrimination follows to government programs such as the Small Business
Administration (SBA) which was founded to help socially and economically disadvantaged
small business owners. Although the program is to help anyone regardless of race or
gender, it deals more exclusively with minorities which gives non-minorities the back
seat, the acceptance of white females is slim even though the program began in the 1970s.
Jane Fagan left her abusive and alcoholic husband and took her four young children
(Mergerson 15). Her husband had beat her so bad it resulted in Jane's permanent
disability. Jane Fagan ended up on welfare, the SBA said she had not suffered any social

Aguilar 11.
disadvantage. The cases presented show the racial preference and reverse discrimination
that affirmative action is promoting.
"Racial preferences are founded on the proposition that the achievements of their
beneficiaries would be fewer if the preferences did not exist" (Sadler 62). Racial
preferences are insulting to all minorities; no minority is inferior to any white, and
neither a female inferior to any man. "Only by eliminating race-based preferences can
America reach the ideas set forth by Martin Luther King Jr." (unknown author 1). Doctor
King hated for his children to be judged for any reason because of the color of their
skin instead of their character. Doctor King's dream will remain so, a dream, as long as
affirmative action has supporters attempting to reactivate the program and employers
following its ideas. Affirmative action should now help any financially challenged
individual; race should not be an issue. Minorities, knowing that they have been admitted
to a selective institution with lower test scores and grades than their white classmates
may demoralize them as well. The negative affects of affirmative action are numerous and
drastic. In employment hiring a less qualified minority because of racial preference will
gradually pick away at our economy. In collegiate admissions minorities who are in a
lower class will find it hard to keep up because they came from a low level and jump in
over their heads to a higher level, which increases drop out rates. Affirmative action is
not helping the needful, which should be people with a financial disadvantage, some
beneficiaries of this policy came from or have middle to upper-class income. In 1989
seventeen percent of Hispanic freshman and fourteen percent of black freshman who 
Aguilar 12.
entered the University of California at Berkeley had a house hold income of 75,000 and up
(Curry 112). These are not to be the beneficiaries of affirmative action. Affirmative
action should consider class rather than race, equal opportunity for all even if one is
from a low family income. "Almost every selective institution is committed to the
principle that talented students from all income groups should be able to attend
regardless of ability to pay the tuition" (Rosenfeld 270). Universities are interested in
potential leaders and achievers, their origin and economic status should be irrelevant.
But with fundamental reform for K-12 grades of inner-city schools all races can succeed
on their merits. Since American society has not yet reached the goal of being color-blind
the laws must substitute for it; therefore equal opportunity must be enforced. The laws
must also forbid the courts and employers from encouraging the use of racial preferences
and quotas that involve race, sex, color, religion, or national origin. Programs such as
that at the University of Maryland, the Academic Achievement Program (AAP) should be 
placed nation wide. The AAP program offers 120 positions for any color student with low
income. AAP is open to minorities and non-minorities; most importantly it helps
financially disadvantaged youths. These are the types of programs that should be
interjected into colleges. In my conducted survey ten out of ten minorities agreed that
affirmative action contradicts the belief of Martin Luther King Jr. to judge by the
content of their character and not the color of their skin. Nine out of ten minorities
agree that 
affirmative action and similar programs assume that minorities are inferior. Seven out of
ten non-minorities agreed that affirmative action contradicts the belief of Martin Luther

Aguilar 13.
King Jr. to judge by the content of their character and not the color of their skin.
These results show that minorities do not want affirmative action, we want to be treated
as equals not people that need special treatment; non-minorities as well disagree with
the program. To be equal, minorities need ameliorate schools; this is where funds should
be directed. Affirmative action is outdated, minorities no longer need racial preference
programs; affirmative action was good its time, however, it has out lived its usefulness
and must be abolished.