Affirmative Action

4 Pages 887 Words

Discrimination is part of history, part of everyday life, and part of every single person in this country. Affirmative action is necessary in today’s American society to counteract the effects of past discrimination, and to help exterminate future tribulations. Although geared towards minorities, in a world dominated by white male’s affirmative action plays a major role in the elimination of prejudice against women and minorities alike.
Established in 1964, as part of the Civil Rights Act, affirmative action was a huge step in American recovery from a Horrible past. A commission to enforce affirmative action was not put into order until years later. The Equal Employment Opportunities act was established in 1972, to enforce what was or other wise just an idea put on paper. ( The Columbia Encyclopedia, 659). Throughout the 70’s there were a few cases pertaining to the quotas being used, and their tendency of “reverse discrimination”. (The Columbia Encyclopedia, 659) The dispute of reverse discrimination was acknowledged in certain cases, but most programs kept their existing policies.
A case in 1979 sought out and achieved approval of quotas to be used in private businesses and unions using affirmative action. Affirmative action was broken down and rebuilt multiple times throughout the late 70’s and 80’s. In the 90’s, with the help of the Civil Rights Act of 1991, affirmative action was now a solid policy for the first time in 20 years. (The Columbia Encyclopedia, 659) However, in 1995, the policy was run through the gamut once more, and restrictions were placed on the use of race when pertaining to government contracts. In 1995 using quotas was ruled illegal by the supreme court. Once more put through test of time, the late 90’s brought change again. The government programs previously affected by the 1995 make over, were now molded to aid anyone who is “socially disadvantaged.”( The Columbia Enc...