This document discusses the history and ongoing controversy around affirmative action policies. It began as an effort to promote equal opportunity and combat discrimination. However, by the late 1970s, some argued it led to "reverse discrimination" against white males. There is ongoing debate around whether affirmative action should focus on race/gender or socioeconomic factors, and whether these policies should be modified or eliminated altogether. The economic impacts and legal challenges around affirmative action in education and employment continue to be actively discussed and debated.

1. AFFIRMATIVE ACTION
THE CONTROVERSY
Trameka Love

2. The History of Affirmative Action
 The term “affirmative
action” was first used in
1961 by President John
F. Kennedy.
 At that time, it stood for
the action that should be
taken when an act of
discrimination against
minorities was
committed.

3. The Civil
Rights Act of
1964
Established to
ensure that
“affirmative
action” was taken
against those who
were found guilty
of discrimination. “This is the next and more profound
Signed by stage of the battle for civil rights,”
President Lyndon Johnson asserted. “We seek...not just
Johnson and
backed by his equality as a right and a theory, but
Executive Order equality as a fact and as a result.”
11246.
~President Lyndon Johnson

4. Reverse Discrimination
 By the late 1970’s, the
negative effects of
affirmative action
became evident.
 White males were now
being discriminated
against in order for
schools and businesses to
fill their “quotas” for
minorities.

5. The Controversy Surrounding Affirmative Action
Admission into Colleges
Inequality of Employment
and Universities
 Whites, especially  Qualified white
white males felt that students were being
minorities were playing turned away on the
the “race card” to basis of their skin
obtain positions that color, so that
they were not qualified unqualified minorities
to hold. could be enrolled to fill
diversification quotas.

6. In 2003, the
University of VS.
Michigan’s
affirmative action
policies were ruled
on by the United
States Supreme
Court.
The Supreme Court
ruled in favor of the
use of affirmative
action in higher
education.
However, the
University’s
undergraduate
admissions program
was told to modify
the points system it Affirmative Action and Higher
used to rate
appplicants.
Education

7. Focus of Affirmative Action
Race and/or Gender Socioeconomics
 When affirmative action  Sociologists and
policies focus on race demographers are able to
and/or gender, the negative
effect of reverse classify different
discrimination arises. individuals into different
 Due to the zero-sum game of socioeconomic statuses
capitalism, when minorities based on household
are given a hand up, the income, education, and
majority class is pulled
down. environment.
 Brings about feelings of  The positive effects of
resentment and anger from affirmative action can be
those who are denied due to shared by a greater
the color of their skin or
their gender. number of people.

8. Economic Effects of Affirmative Action
On Groups of People On Organizations
 Employment rates  Research shows that
 Income earned formal charges of
 Promotion rates and discrimination within an
Occupations attained organization led to a
decrease in stock prices.
Research of the effect of
affirmative action on the  Public recognition of
three categories listed affirmative action
showed that affirmative excellence led to a
action has brought about temporary increase in
improvements in all three
categories for both stock prices.
women and minorities.
http://www.siop.org/AfirmAct/siopsaar.aspx

9. Food for Thought
Do you think affirmative action should focus on
race/gender or shift focus to socioeconomic
status?
Should affirmative action policies be done away
with altogether?

10. Sources
 http://www.answers.com/topic/affirmative-action?cat=biz-fin
 http://www.siop.org/AfirmAct/siopsaar.aspx
 http://www.whitworthian.com/home/index.cfm?event=displayArt
iclePrinterFriendly&uStor...
 http://www.historylearningsite.co.uk/1964_civil_rights_act.htm
 http://print.infoplease.com/spot/affirmative1.html