Affirmative Action Essay -- Government Affirmative Action Essays

Though Affirmative Action is a current controversial issue, it is far from new; its decree has been long in the making. Perhaps it originates from amendments 13-15, the series of amendments that outlawed slavery, guaranteed equal protection under the law, and forbid racial discrimination when voting, respectively (Sykes 1). The Supreme Court’s decision in 1896, in the case of Plessy V. Ferguson, mandated separate but equal treatment for African Americans (Sykes 1). However, in 1954, the Supreme Court’s decision from Brown v. Board of Education replaced that of the Plessy v. Ferguson trial. President Lyndon Johnson was the first to use the term â€Å"Affirmative Action† in the Executive Order 11246 of 1965 (Sykes 1). This order required federal contractors to use affirmative action to make sure people were treated equally, â€Å"without regard to their race, creed, color, or national origin† (Cahn 1). Two years later, Johnson amended it to incl ude women (Cahn 1). By 1971, President Nixon issued a Revised Order No. 4 that required contractors to adopt an â€Å"acceptable affirmative action program† (Cahn 1). Over the past three decades, many debates continue as to whether or not affirmative action still belongs in America. Affirmative action is an issue that evokes strong emotions for both supporters and non-supporters alike. Those against affirmative action argue that affirmative action does not help minorities but rather degrades them. They argue that affirmative action sends minorities the message that they can only succeed if they are given extra benefits; thus, resulting in damaged credibility. Often cited as example of affirmative action victims are that of Clarence Thomas and Colin Powell. Critics of affirmativ... ... http://www.pbs.org/weta/washingtonweek/voices/200304/0414action.html Sherman, Mitchell. â€Å"Equal Employment Opportunity: Legal Issues and Societal Consequences.† Public Personnel Management. Washington: March-April 2008. Print. Stevenson, Daniel C. â€Å"Affirmative Action Remains Imperative.† The Tech. Boston: 7 March 1995. Web. 28 March 2015. http://www-tech.mit.edu/V115/N9/danspew.09o.html Sykes, Marquita. â€Å"The Origins of Affirmative Action.† 2004. Web. 28 March 2015. http://www.now.org/nnt/08-95/affirmhs.html Tomasson, Richard F., Faye J. Crosby, and Sharon D. Herzberger. Affirmative Action: The Pros and Cons of Policy and Practice. Lanham: Rowman & Littlefield Publishers, Inc, 2001. Print. Yetman, Norman R. Race and Ethnicity. 2007. found in: Jackson, Robert Max. Social Foundations of Public Issues. USA. McGraw-Hill, 2013. Print. Affirmative Action Essay -- Government Affirmative Action Essays Though Affirmative Action is a current controversial issue, it is far from new; its decree has been long in the making. Perhaps it originates from amendments 13-15, the series of amendments that outlawed slavery, guaranteed equal protection under the law, and forbid racial discrimination when voting, respectively (Sykes 1). The Supreme Court’s decision in 1896, in the case of Plessy V. Ferguson, mandated separate but equal treatment for African Americans (Sykes 1). However, in 1954, the Supreme Court’s decision from Brown v. Board of Education replaced that of the Plessy v. Ferguson trial. President Lyndon Johnson was the first to use the term â€Å"Affirmative Action† in the Executive Order 11246 of 1965 (Sykes 1). This order required federal contractors to use affirmative action to make sure people were treated equally, â€Å"without regard to their race, creed, color, or national origin† (Cahn 1). Two years later, Johnson amended it to incl ude women (Cahn 1). By 1971, President Nixon issued a Revised Order No. 4 that required contractors to adopt an â€Å"acceptable affirmative action program† (Cahn 1). Over the past three decades, many debates continue as to whether or not affirmative action still belongs in America. Affirmative action is an issue that evokes strong emotions for both supporters and non-supporters alike. Those against affirmative action argue that affirmative action does not help minorities but rather degrades them. They argue that affirmative action sends minorities the message that they can only succeed if they are given extra benefits; thus, resulting in damaged credibility. Often cited as example of affirmative action victims are that of Clarence Thomas and Colin Powell. Critics of affirmativ... ... http://www.pbs.org/weta/washingtonweek/voices/200304/0414action.html Sherman, Mitchell. â€Å"Equal Employment Opportunity: Legal Issues and Societal Consequences.† Public Personnel Management. Washington: March-April 2008. Print. Stevenson, Daniel C. â€Å"Affirmative Action Remains Imperative.† The Tech. Boston: 7 March 1995. Web. 28 March 2015. http://www-tech.mit.edu/V115/N9/danspew.09o.html Sykes, Marquita. â€Å"The Origins of Affirmative Action.† 2004. Web. 28 March 2015. http://www.now.org/nnt/08-95/affirmhs.html Tomasson, Richard F., Faye J. Crosby, and Sharon D. Herzberger. Affirmative Action: The Pros and Cons of Policy and Practice. Lanham: Rowman & Littlefield Publishers, Inc, 2001. Print. Yetman, Norman R. Race and Ethnicity. 2007. found in: Jackson, Robert Max. Social Foundations of Public Issues. USA. McGraw-Hill, 2013. Print.