Affirmative Action Development

According to Merriam-Webster, affirmative action is “an active effort to improve the employment or educational opportunities of members of minority groups and women” and “a similar effort to promote the rights or progress of other disadvantaged persons.” [1].

The term “affirmative action” was first conceived by President John F. Kennedy in 1961 when he issued Executive Order 10925, requiring government contractors to “take affirmative action to ensure that applicants are employed, and that employees are treated during employment, without regard to their race, creed, color, or national origin.”

However, after the passage of the 1964 Civil Rights Act, the idea of “without regard” completely reversed, with the federal and state governments allowing special preferences towards the minority in regards to education and employment, with the treatment being justified because of prior discrimination and attempting to expand opportunities for the underprivileged [2].

With the passage of time, the idea of affirmative action has completely changed from its initial definition. Nowadays, affirmative action is a very highly-debated issue, especially when looking at college admissions.

 

[1] “Affirmative Action.” Merriam-Webster, Merriam-Webster, http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/affirmative%20action.

[2] Gratz, Jennifer. “Discriminating Toward Equality: Affirmative Action and the Diversity Charade.” Discriminating Toward Equality: Affirmative Action and the Diversity Charade, The Heritage Foundation, 27 Feb. 2014, http://www.heritage.org/poverty-and-inequality/report/discriminating-toward-equality-affirmative-action-and-the-diversity.