Do We Still Need Affirmative Action?

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  “Discrimination Continues to Exist”

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Discrimination Continues to Exist

American Association for Affirmative Action

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Discrimination still exists . Now more than ever, the continued use of affirmative action is needed to address existing discrimination, to break down barriers and to ensure that all individuals have an equal opportunity to demonstrate their talents and abilities.  In FY 2007, 82,792 charges of discrimination were filed with the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, up from 75,768 in 2006.  The Department of Labor collected $51,680,950 for 22,251 workers subjected to discrimination in FY 2007.

Affirmative action prevents discrimination by encouraging efforts to investigate and eliminate barriers to equal opportunity before they become discriminatory acts.  Affirmative action also calls on employers to diversify the pool of qualified individuals from which it can make a selection.  It does not require quotas or preferences.  Affirmative action eliminates race and gender preferences that some have enjoyed for centuries.  Affirmative action gives everyone a chance to compete.

 

We have made progress, but there is a long road ahead . As a nation, we have made significant progress in recent years in creating equal access to opportunity, but there remains much work to be done. Affirmative action presents itself as a proven solution to addressing existing discrimination and promoting equal opportunity.

 
Ending affirmative action would end the dreams of opportunity for many . Policies and programs to ensure equality of opportunity provide the only assurance that many women, people of color, veterans and the disabled have that they can compete – and be evaluated fairly – for jobs and educational opportunities.

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"We Need Affirmative Action" AAAA

• Affirmative Action is Necessary
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• Diversity is a Compelling State Interest
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• Discrimination Continues to Exist
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• To End Racism We Must Take Account of Race
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• Eliminating Race Does Not Benefit Whites
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• Opponents Mis-Characterize Affirmative Action
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• Dr. Martin Luther King Would Have Supported Affirmative Action
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• The Changing Demographics Call for Affirmative Action
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"Affirmative Action is Divisive" Center for Equal Opportunity

• Only Kind of “Affirmative Action” at Issue is Racial Discrimination
  3
• The Only Issue is Whether the Benefits Outweigh the Costs
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• The Two Claimed Benefits of Affirmative Discrimination Not Persuasive
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• There Are Many Undeniable Costs to the Use of Racial Preferences
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• Envision the Society We Want/Ask if Preferences Will Help Us Get There
  2

"We Have To Think for Ourselves" Brandon Brice

• The Equal Opportunity Act Was Not About “Quotas”
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• The Bigger Picture of What’s Wrong With Black America
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• Lack of Preparation
  2

"Definitely" BAMN

• As Long as Racism and Sexism Exist, Affirmative Action is Still Needed
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• GPA and Standardized Test Scores are NOT Neutral Measures of Merit
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• Racism is the Cause of the "Badge of Inferiority"
  1
• Banning Affirmative Action Resegregates Higher Education
  3
• How to Keep Our Nation on the Path to Equality
  3

"Moving Beyond Race and Gender" Jennifer Gratz

• Equal Opportunity for All
  6
• The Constitutionality of Affirmative Action
  5
• Our National Tragedy
  3

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