The issue of civil rights is a central tenant in a government of the most diverse nation on Earth. The people, events, images, and processes involved in the ongoing story of civil rights are as dynamic as any in American history, and it is remarkable that our nation has evolved from a long tradition of slavery into a society which elected its first African American president. That remarkable event does not mean that discrimination or civil rights are issues of the past, however. On that same day in November 2008, a series of state initiatives across the nation restricted the rights of gays and lesbians including the right to marry and adopt children, providing a strong example of the numerous civil rights battles that are continuing nationwide.
While there is much to discuss regarding civil rights in America today, our time is short and we will be focusing on one topic that affects us all as members of an academic community: the debate over affirmative action. For this week’s blog, read the chapter that was assigned, an as you do so, please think about affirmative action broadly (going beyond race alone) and answer the following question:
Does affirmative action in college admissions create more of a positive or negative effect?
The idea of white privilege refers specifically to “unearned cultural, political, economic, and social advantages” of those belonging to the “Caucasian” racial group (Racial Domination, Racial Progress, p. 40, Desmond & Emirbayer, 2010). What Desmond and Emirbayer are trying to convey is that white privilege works through systematic forces. This means that rather than the common idea of individual agency accounting for human success, opportunities presented by societal strongholds, based somewhat on racial distinction, are central to social mobility. A quite illustrative example would be the fact that “the majority of blacks- 65% nationwide and up to 80% in some parts of the South- could not take advantage of the benefits offered by the Social Security Act (p. 153, Desmond & Emirbayer, 2010).” This New Deal policy, instituted by Franklin D. Roosevelt in 1935, discriminated against a specific race, thus advantaging, in this and many cases, white Americans. Though not outwardly banning African-Americans from the program, it targeted the largely “black” jobs, which is far from coincidence. This type of racism is not only symbolic and telling of the time period, but also a literal limitation of the majority of a racial group. By enhancing white opportunity to build future wealth and retire without anxiety, the system reinstitutes the dominant reign of power. Recapitulating societal patterns forces the lower classes into more and more of a hole. The work of racist legislators very clearly stated their motives in New Deal policies across the board; African-Americans are unequal, thus not deserving the same aid as whites.
ReplyDeleteThus, the overwhelming concept held by civil rights activist looks to settle the score. When we look at Affirmative Action policy, most individuals do not look past the surface of the issue. In two monumental Supreme Court Cases in the past two decades, Regents of the University of California v. Bakke and Grutter v. Bollinger, a single conclusion has been reached by the justices: there is a valid benefit to multicultural education. The cases merely vary in the two school's (UCal and UMich) methodology for selecting which students to enroll. UCal decided to hold a certain number of seats for minority students, which was unconstitutional due to the 14th Amendment Equal Protection Clause. The University of Michigan Law School's process involved a point system, where minorities received an automatic 20 points towards enrollment (the system was deemed constitutional). On the surface this seems blatantly unfair, but we need to look further. It can be argued that other aspects of the enrollment process were racially unequal, subtly and systematically. SAT score, which is best predicted by a student's family income, holds socioeconomic relevance, which can quite apparently favor white offspring (https://prospect.org/article/titanic-wealth-gap-between-blacks-and-whites). Also, extracurricular activities, AP courses, GPA, and anything academically related, has rough implications for high schools like Wendall Phillips, which has two AP classes where only 2% of students receive 4 or 5 on their exams, in the Englewood neighborhood of Chicago (99% African-American). There are schools like this everywhere in this country, and it works in the reverse. Schools are DE FACTO segregated, and as the Supreme Court decided in Brown v. Board of Ed, INHERENTLY UNEQUAL. Other factors can be explored such as the "Relative Enrollment," which acts in some ways as a Grandfather Clause similar to Jim Crow. So, when investigating Affirmative Action, it is impossible to look past the systematic inequality based on race in our country. Is it the solution to all of our racial problems? No, but change comes from desegregation and economic autonomy for minority communities across the country. So please, don't listen to the people who say "I did not get in because of some Asian guy," its a justification for not being good enough..
http://www.understandingprejudice.org/readroom/articles/affirm.htm
As a teacher I believe that affirmative action is a good thing. As much as people would love to deny it, discrimination is still a very real thing and children are affected by it every day. When applying to schools, we have to make sure that kids from all different backgrounds, social classes, and racial groups are represented. With that being said though, we also need to ensure that affirmative action is not abused. The whole point of affirmative action is to ensure that kids of color are not discriminated against and denied opportunities, but this preventative measure should not discriminate against white kids. In a perfect world, kids would be judged based on how well they do when applying to schools but since this is not the only thing that factors into school acceptance affirmative action is necessary.
ReplyDeleteI also feel that affirmative action is necessary because it is about more than just race. When people think about affirmative action the often think about kids of color v.s. white kids but it encompasses more than that. Affirmative action covers race, color, religion, gender and sexual orientation. The whole point of this initiative is to make sure that all kids are looked at equally
President Lyndon Johnson said, “You do not take a person, who, for years, has been hobbled by chains…and then say you are free to compete with all the others, and still just believe that you have been completely fair.” I strongly agree with his statement. There is a difference between equality of opportunity and equality of outcome and that line is drawn early on in a child’s education. Although an African-American child may have the same opportunities as a European-American child, their K-12 schooling and experiences might have been drastically different and so you cannot assume that they have an equal start when they step into college. Where you live, where you go to school and your experiences as a child can highly boost your ability to go to college and if you don’t live in a very good neighborhood in the first place, then your opportunity to have the same outcome as someone living in a suburban neighborhood diminishes.
ReplyDeleteAffirmative action in college admissions creates a positive effect for minority students because more are granted the opportunity to attend college and campuses become more diverse. However, Caucasian students might feel like it is unfair to them that they could be denied admission because of their race even if they might have scored well above other students who were admitted as was the case in Regents of the University of California v. Bakke. I personally think that a person should be admitted to a university based on merit and not on race. As a Latino student I wouldn’t want to get into a college just because I am part of the minority population but because I have worked hard enough to earn the privilege of attending a post-secondary institution. I want the university to acknowledge my value and potential as a future student because of how well I have performed. Therefore, I would prefer if colleges would practice race-blind admissions and I think it would be interesting to see what the student population would look like on college campuses without Affirmative Action which can sometimes limit the amount of minority students entering an institution as was the case with the University of California.
-Erik Martinez
I believe affirmative action in college admissions creates more of a positive effect. Students are deprived of proper education from the commencement of their learning, pre-school. I have often heard that the success of a student is based on the quality of education they receive from their early years. I have been a witness of this discrimination of education. CPS vs. Private schooling is already a battle and allowing minority students admittance into college will only give them the drive to also succeed as those with that high-quality of education. Most of the failure that comes from underprivileged minorities in Chicago are because there is a lack of motivation. Obviously, if there is competition and goals to reach then students will be more positive and optimistic in their education. Many minority students today see no point in trying in high school because they feel as if they are not smart or have the money to pay for tuition. With affirmative action, minority students will see that there is assistance and a chance to practice their knowledge and continue learning through challenging course work. I have heard that colleges are thinking about removing the ACT from some admission requirements and that could serve as a gateway for minority students to feel more welcomed to college. Colleges can also see this as a negative action because they might see as if the students are not prepared to tackle college course work. It may be so, but at least those who can handle this course work can push themselves and see that college is possible and it would be a chance to move their family forward, whether economically, educationally, and financially.
ReplyDeleteI think that affirmative action in college admissions creates a negative effect. This is because minority kids that would not otherwise be admitted to a school can get in. Having them admitted takes a spot away from someone else who is more qualified. Also, it is unfair to the minority kid who got in for being a minority because they are most likely not ready to handle the curriculum and stress of the university they would not otherwise qualify into. College admissions should be based completely on merit not on race, gender, religion or anything else. When a college receives an application they should remove all references to race, gender, religion, sexual preference, or anything else that can be used to discriminate; they should then put a number on that application and pass it on to the admissions office to prevent any bias. The admissions office will only have GPA, test scores, essays, reference letters, job or volunteer history, and sport history in high school. They decide based on that then the number is paired up with the contact information and they applicant is notified if they were admitted or not. This method would completely remove any chance for discrimination in the application process.
ReplyDeleteAffirmattive action in college admissions appears as if its trying to compensate for the poor primary and secondary education that was given to minorities. Depending on the amount of wealth or poverty in an particular area, determines the amount of education that a child will receive.
ReplyDeleteApparently, all CPS are not created equal. A "White" child attending school in Lincoln Park will be fully equipped with the proper tools for the real world, however, a "Latino" child attending school in a low-income area will have little to no resources to prepare her/him for a higher education. Perhaps something should be done with the distribution of property taxes so that every CPS student gets the same amount of education.
And so, how can a minority compete when she/he has not been trained? Minorities have to constantly prove themselves. They have to break-down prejudices and stereotypes that prevent them to stand on the same platform as the rest. Minorities don't want any special treatment, they want equality, and it should start once she/he begins her/his education.
I think affirmative action is generally a good thing, because it's an attempt to "fix" our broken educational system by giving minority students a chance to catch up to those with more privileged backgrounds.
ReplyDeleteDavid, in a more perfect world, I would completely agree with you. Yes, getting into university should be be based on merit and not race, gender, etc. But the fact of the matter is that not everyone gets the same opportunities to gain that merit.
I personally am white, a native English speaker, and come from an upper-middle class, suburban home. My parents are both college graduates. I knew from a young age I would go to college.Who on earth am I to say that affirmative action is good or bad?
For students who have grown up in poor neighborhoods, or struggle with language barriers, or any other variety of social/ environmental issues that got in the way of them receiving as high of an education as I did, affirmative action is sort of a last-chance opportunity to catch up to those who haven't experienced hardships based on the color of their skin or any variety of factors.
Obviously, the real solution to this problem is to put more effort and funding into struggling schools everywhere so that all students receive the same level of primary and secondary education. But while that arduous and slow process drags on, I think affirmative action is necessary to give students with the potential to succeed an opporunity they may otherwise have been denied because they weren't privileged enough for a higher education to earn better test scores and GPAs.
In my opinion and like other students already said, this topic has to be looked at from a positive and negative perspective.
ReplyDeleteOn the one hand the affirmative action is a really good thing to make equal rights for everyone and the chance for kids from a poor neighborhood to get the same education as richer kids. Education and equality should never lack just because of different race or ethnicity.
On the other hand, it is a topic that could have negative results as well. Like the book WE ARE THE PEOPLE mentions, white students could not get into school because of their race, whereas black or latino students got in just because of their racial background. Although the white students had way better grades, they could not get the best education possible, because of the affirmative action. Although the school tried to do the right thing, in this case the white student was not equally treated. Another negative factor could be the lack of education some of the students have before getting an admission. Even if they get the admission it does not mean that they are capable to follow the classes, because they did not get good education before.
As a result I think affirmative actions are a good thing, but we have to make sure that we still keep EQUALITY in mind. Schools have to find a good balance of not only treating minority groups right, but also how to keep the rights of the majority groups.
I agree with Caroline when she says that affirmative action must be viewed from both sides. It is simply too touchy of an issue to state an answer cut and dry.
ReplyDeleteOne side of the issue goes into how it can be increasingly difficult for colleges (particularly upper-echelon colleges) that receive thousands and thousands of applications to decipher one person from another because their grades, test scores, etc. all might be extremely similar and simply taking one applicant over another because that student is a minority is not fair to the other student and is still not equal. All you are doing is tipping the scales in the other direction and making it far more difficult for white, middle class students to get into college.
The other side would say that maybe the minorities had to work harder based on where they came from and the school that they attended in order to get into the position to attend college and they should be rewarded for this more so than the white student who went to a premier high school and was able to coast by and eventually apply for college.
I have 2 problems with Affirmative Action. The first is what happens to the caucasian students at this high school who are applying? They are facing 2 disadvantages here and are thus being given the hardest road possible. The second is if a child is a minority but lives in a wealthy family, goes to an outstanding high school, and is applying for college, why should they also receive the advantage. I believe that affirmative action has a negative connotation and should be altered to include these kids who are doing the same things and working just as hard as the minority students. Colleges are too competitive these days and they want the best students possible, i believe Affirmative Action gets in the way of this goal.
The issue of affirmative action in the college admissions setting is a tricky one, and to determine whether it is positive or negative relies on a few things. Affirmative action in the United States began as a tool to address the persistent discrimination against African Americans in the 1960s. There was no question that fifty years ago, it was indeed needed and held in a positive light. However, are some students today still vulnerable to the same racist minds in college admissions as they were fifty years ago? If so, it of course is a positive. If not, then it is a negative because the admissions revolve around race in a non-biased arena instead of who better qualifies.
ReplyDeleteThis could be tied into what we talked about in class on Monday. If affirmative action in college admissions can be labelled under the equality of opportunity, it's a positive factor. It provides a level playing field and eliminates discrimination.
If, however, it can be labelled under equality of outcomes, it is a negative factor. I believe that unlike equality of opportunity, equality of outcomes uses reverse discrimination and gives the minorities an advantage, creating a sense of entitlement within that community. They would be more probable to develop this narcissistic sense of how they deserve to get into a particular college or university based solely on the reasoning behind their race, instead of talent or work ethic.
I think it is negative because that isnt exactly fair just because someone belongs to a minority group it dosent mean they should be able to get more of a chance of something then someone else who deserves it. I think everyone in college should be able to get in based on what they will bring to the college not what skin color they are are. I think they are trying to make up for what they didnt give during their high school education. I think if they want to take affirmative action then they should take it from the start if they want to start to help the minority groups then where were they the first twelve years of their education.
ReplyDeleteI think that affirmative action can be a positive and a negative thing. On one hand affirmative action makes businesses and educational institutions recognize minority groups and sets quotas for diversity among different bodies of peoples without explicitly saying so. This is a good thing because we are ensuring that minority groups get equal chance at attending college or getting a job as much as any group of people do. This is meant as reparations for the history of oppression and discrimination that plagued this country until very recently. On the other hand, affirmative action is a negative thing because it could be said that it makes equal situations less equal and fair because people are trying to hire minorities. If there are two spots open for a spot in a certain college, that institution might feel the need to hire the minority student in order to diversify their body a bit more, this creates an unfair situation as both students could be able to contribute equally to the school. For this reason, it could be said that affirmative action is bad because it creates situations where employers or recruiters may lean towards minority groups. Because of all the facts presented above, it can be said that affirmative action is both positive and negative in many different ways. But i still think it is a good program to have in our government and in our culture.
ReplyDeleteI think affirmative action can be positive and negative if not balanced properly. Universities or hiring businesses have recently been recognizing and looking for the minorities in their applicants. This can be a positive, to help make their community a more diverse one while it can also be negative because it can keep a person from being accepted or the job if not a minority. The universities and businesses should still look for minorities but not scope them out as much and be so focused on minorities rather than getting the best applicant.
ReplyDeleteI believe affirmative action can be positive or negative depending on how it is carried out. I do believe that some schools may accept someone who might not be ready to start college just because they are apart of a certain minority. If you have two kids who have grown up in different income areas, chances are that they got a very different type of schooling along with different opportunities. I believe that everyone is capable to going to college, but, I believe that some are ready sooner than others. However, it can also be a good thing. It is giving opportunities to people who might not have a chance to attend college otherwise. It gives minorities an equal chance which is something the nation has been striving for a very long time.
ReplyDeleteI think that affirmative action can be a double edge sword. Affirmative action is suppose to help those discriminated against yet, I think that affirmative action has started to discriminate against the ones who once were the discriminators. I think that affirmative action in colleges is a delicate issue. I am a minority and affirmative action makes me wonder if that was what allows me to attend DePaul. I think that affirmative action may even violate the idea that “all men are created equal.” I do understand that there may be certain things in life that cause disadvantages, yet affirmative action can be discriminating which simply does not end discrimination.
ReplyDeleteI think affirmative action is a positive thing because it in a way evens the playing field between those that have a lot of support and whose families make it a priority to go to school, compared to those that live in poverty and struggle to get into school. Affirmative action gives those who don't have as much privilege or guidance a chance to have an education. Everyone comes from different types of neighborhoods, and us kids don't have any decision on where we start out. Affirmative action however, can help us have a decision on where we end up. Although some may contrast this and think it's unfair and gives precedence to those in need, when others have worked very hard to get where their at, I personally think that's selfish and that we should be happy help is being given to those in need. Also, this greatly improves diversity among universities and high schools. Being a good student requires dedication and determination, which is something only you can learn on your own. Affirmative action doesn't teach kids to do this, it gives them the chance to embrace an opportunity that they normally wouldn't have, and let them take control of their own lives. It is in our power as Americans to make sure our communities are reaching their full potential.
ReplyDeleteAffirmative action frequently involves the use of racial, gender, socioeconomic background, and/or sexual orientation to sway your acceptance into an institution. At the collegiate level, this affirmative action is negatively impacting a school’s true “performance rating.” Affirmative action in the college admissions process has been a very controversial ethical matter. It is unfair to judge applicants on anything other than their capabilities. Colleges should mainly focus on the student’s grades, extra-curricular achievements/awards, test scores, etc. Those should be the main interests colleges should be looking into. If you know that a student is capable of performing well at your institution, why would you let anything get in the way of that?
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