Racism

4 Pages 1025 Words

The issues of race and ethnic identity have always been central to American society, yet at the same time our American identity as a “melting pot” has in part been forged by denying this as the principal basis of our identity. Racism has been a pervasive and disturbing reality throughout American society. How do we respond morally to the fact that racism exists in our society and to the role that it has played in our history? One response suggests, “we owe compensation to those who have been wronged in the past”(CMI P.258). Compensation programs seek to determine who has been wronged in the past and to make up for it in the present and future. An example of a program aimed to provide some kind of special support, consideration, or advantage to groups that have previously been discriminated against is Affirmative Action. Instead of monetary compensation for the injustices women and minorities have endured throughout history, Affirmative Action seeks to ensure that these groups are not discriminated against in the work force or in education by establishing racial quotas for firms and universities. It also creates more diversity at the work place and at colleges and universities.
On the other hand, many will argue that preferential treatment promotes racism. It is often referred to as reverse discrimination. Many argue the fact that Affirmative Action maximizes the likelihood that blacks hired for a job, or admitted to a university, will be less capable than the whites beside them. The most common objection to Affirmative Action is that the job should go to the most qualified candidate. Why should a person who is less qualified for a job get hired over a better-qualified person just because that company has to meet a certain racial quota? Another argument is that such programs have created resentment and animosity among non-minorities, especially white males. In addition, Affirmative Action programs have sti...