America And Affirmative Action

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Term Paper Title	America And Affirmative Action
# of Words	1070
# of Pages (250 words per page double spaced)	4.28

America and Affirmative Action

America and 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.
     Perhaps the biggest complaint that one hears about affirmative action
policies aimed at helping Black Americans is that they violate the 14th
Amendment of the Constitution and the Civil Rights laws.,  The claim is that
these programs distort what is now a level playing field and bestow preferential
treatment on understanding minorities because of the color of their skin.  While
this view seems very logical on the surface, many contend that it lacks any
historical support and is aimed more at preserving existing White privilege than
establishing equality of opportunity for all.  Any cursory look at the history
of this country should provide a serious critique to the idea of a level playing
field.  Since the birth of this nation, Blacks have been enslaved, oppressed,
and exploited people.  Until 1954, when the Supreme Court handed down Brown v.
Board, Blacks were legally pushed to the margin of society where many were left
to dwell in poverty and powerlessness.  The Brown decision removed the legal
impediments that had so long kept Blacks in the impoverished peripheral.
Despite this long awaited victory for Black Americans, the historic decision
failed to provide adequate means for the deconstruction of White dominance and
privilege,  It merely allowed Blacks to enter the arena of competition.  This...

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