Atlanta 9to5

Affirmative action

Affirmative Action

Affirmative action is an anti-discrimination measure. Critics claim that unqualified minorities and women get jobs because of their race or gender. In fact, affirmative action is an anti-discrimination measure that expands the pool of applicants to include those who previously were excluded or overlooked.     

Mary Francis Berry, law professor and first African-American woman chancellor at University of Colorado said, “Affirmative Action didn’t make me qualified to become chancellor.  It made the University of Colorado able to recognize my qualifications.”

Affirmative Action isn’t a new idea.  The United States has always had ‘affirmative action’ policies that help specific groups gain access to institutions and resources.  But this was ‘affirmative action’ of the majority, assuring that all preferential treatment went to white males and upper class people.  When the U.S. government stepped in with what we call ‘affirmative action’ it was in order to counter this other centuries-old form of preference.  Affirmative action uses the authority of the federal government to help people of color and white women gain access to companies, organizations and positions from which they have been systematically excluded.  It does not force those companies and organizations to change in any other way.

Arguing against affirmative action for people of color and white women really argues for a return to the older form of exclusionary ‘affirmative actions.’  By reversing affirmative action policies, we would ensure the perpetuation of the many ways in which decision makers tend to favor those with whom they are most familiar and comfortable.

Race and gender are relevant criteria among many to consider in a candidate.  Bringing in employees with a variety of experiences is critical for an organization’s ability to effectively respond to a diverse customer base.

Affirmative action levels the playing field.  Going back to the policy of doing nothing will result in continued discrimination and exclusion.