The Role Of Affirmative Action In The United States

Affirmative Action in United States is a policy in favor of minority groups that were historically underrepresented and excluded. The idea of Affirmative Action was widely brought up during 1960s’ Civil Rights Movement. Before Civil Rights Movement, African Americans and white were separated in public areas, workplaces, and higher education institutions. During Civil Rights Movement, minority groups fought for equality among different racial group, and object to end racial segregation and discrimination in US society. Therefore, there were many different social and political reforms during 1960s. The Affirmative Action was one of them. President Kennedy signed Executive Order 10925 in 1961, where he stated that during government employment process, “employees are treated during employment, without regard to their race, creed, color, or national origin” (Exec. Order No.
The supporters argue that Affirmative Action makes higher education institutions diverse. According Audrey J. Murrell and Ray Jones, “In 1955, only 4.9% of college students aged 18-24 were black . . . . This percentage rose to 6.5 over next 5 years. . . [7.8% of college students in 1970 were Black; in 1980, 9.1%; in 1990, 11.3% were black]” (81). And the percentage has increased in 21st century also. Affirmative Action was proposed during Civil Rights Movement in order to end segregation. Therefore, it was successful in promoting equalities of human race in last century. However, it has been fifty years since Civil Rights Movement and the society is totally different than what it was. Before Civil Rights Movement, blacks and whites were totally separated in public areas. Therefore it is important to encourage or even enforce the diversity in higher education institution. But fifty years later, Affirmative Action becomes “reverse discrimination” that is used to fix discrimination happened in the