Affirmative Action

Memorandum

TO: Amy Petersilie

FROM: Bob Heim

DATE: February 6, 2015

SUBJECT: Problems with Affirmative Action

Affirmative Action has been a subject of much debate ever since it was put into effect and that is not because the policy itself is flawed, but because of the way that organizations have implemented it. While affirmative action has provided benefits and more opportunity for some underprivileged minorities over the last few decades, the policy has also had negative effects and at times can contradict the underlying message that it is trying to instill in our society. We need to revisit the policy and evaluate its place in our society today as well as raise awareness of the potential negative impact that it can have.

Affirmative action was first introduced in 1961 by John F. Kennedy as a “method of redressing discrimination that had persisted in spite of civil rights laws and constitutional guarantees.” While the intent in creating such a policy was good, there have been negative side effects due to the abuse, misinterpretation, and misconception of the original purpose of affirmative action.

A big problem with affirmative action is that it is under the assumption that all people of minority races are underprivileged and all people of the majority race have an unfair advantage. This is a horrible mindset for us to have because it only perpetuates the segregation of races and increases resentment between racial groups. We want to get to a point in our society where all people are treated equally, but this policy actually encourages treating people differently based on the color of their skin.

The society that we live in today is much different than that of 1961, and we need to recognize that when we debate the best course of action regarding this policy. Merriam-Webster defines affirmative action as “the practice of improving the educational and job opportunities of members of groups that have not been treated fairly in the past...