The Changing Demographics Call for Affirmative Action

Despite the challenges brought by Ward Connerly and the Right Wing, affirmative action will continue to be necessary because of the nation’s changing demographics and to need to include these human resources for the sake of our domestic interests and international competitiveness.

The Census Bureau calculates that by 2042, Americans who identify themselves as Hispanic, black, Asian, American Indian, Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander will together outnumber non-Hispanic whites. Diversity strategies (including affirmative action) will be essential to integrate all of these segments of society, from the entry level to the executive suite, in government as well as the private sector.   Affirmative action will continue to be important as a means to promote representation and to manage effectively increasingly diverse employees in the workplace.  Affirmative action and diversity programs will also be needed to admit an increasingly diverse group of qualified and talented students into institutions of higher education.

While discrimination continues to exist, its antidote, Affirmative Action, will be necessary: for inclusion and prevention and to remedy the effects of past discrimination.