Affirmative action began as a necessity to help previously disadvantaged minorities gain equality. However, due to the dynamic ideas of equality and what is needed to achieve it, the policy has turned into something that hurts more than it helps in today’s society. There are multiple problems with it, such as reverse racism, not addressing the deeper societal problems, and it is condescending to minorities. Much of this comes from the consequences of birthplace and race; a theme also explored in the source materials, “Letter to My Nephew” by James Baldwin. These problems can be easily seen through a deep evaluation and it is evident that the only true way to reach a colorblind society is to follow the lead of the eight states that have already
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For instance, in the case of Allan Bakke, a white man who was twice denied entrance to the University of California Medical School at Davis. Trying to abide by the quotas set, the university set aside sixteen percent of its admission places for minorities. Despite having higher test scores, Bakke was denied to make room for those deemed “disadvantaged”. This case went all the way to the Supreme Court as Regents of the University of California v. Bakke. The decision came in 1977 as eight to one for Bakke. California is one of the states that has now abolished affirmative action. Many other similar cases have evolved, such as Grutter v. Bolinger and Fisher v. Texas. Affirmative action in college admissions clearly leads to reverse racism as institutions are trying to reach the quotas set for racial diversity. Accepting lower qualified individuals simply because they are members of a minority group instead of accepting whomever is higher qualified leads to the disruption of basic American principles of working for what one has. It leads to colleges giving minorities preferential treatment and lowers minority accountability for their
For instance, in the case of Allan Bakke, a white man who was twice denied entrance to the University of California Medical School at Davis. Trying to abide by the quotas set, the university set aside sixteen percent of its admission places for minorities. Despite having higher test scores, Bakke was denied to make room for those deemed “disadvantaged”. This case went all the way to the Supreme Court as Regents of the University of California v. Bakke. The decision came in 1977 as eight to one for Bakke. California is one of the states that has now abolished affirmative action. Many other similar cases have evolved, such as Grutter v. Bolinger and Fisher v. Texas. Affirmative action in college admissions clearly leads to reverse racism as institutions are trying to reach the quotas set for racial diversity. Accepting lower qualified individuals simply because they are members of a minority group instead of accepting whomever is higher qualified leads to the disruption of basic American principles of working for what one has. It leads to colleges giving minorities preferential treatment and lowers minority accountability for their