ACTION
By Darrell Johnson
johnd98@email.unc.edu
Businesses, schools and other institutions gloat "equal
opportunity" without regard to race, color, religion, sex,
age or national origin, consistent with the law. President
Johnson's executive order that initiated 'affirmative
action' stated that "the contractor will not discriminate
against any employee or applicant because of race, color,
religion, sex, or national origin." It continues, saying,
"the contractor will take affirmative action to ensure that
employees are treated
during employment,
without regard to
their race, color, reli
gion, sex, or national
origin."
Both of the above
statements describing 'equal opportunity' and 'affirma
tive action' are consistent with each other and also are
consistent with the following two statements:
"I have a dream that one day this nation will rise up
and live out the true meaning of its creed: 'We hold these
truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal.'"
"I have a dream that my four little children will one
day live in a nation where they will not be judged by the
color of their skin, but by the content of their character."
Several presidencies have dealt with the affirmative
action controversy, and, consequently, affirmative action
has dramatically changed over the years.
Quotas and similar means of implementing affirma
tive action programs have driven the program away
from its original purpose. These implementations have
caused affirmative action programs, in their futile
attempt to 'undo discrimination,' to become forms of
'reverse discrimination,' giving preference to 'minori
ties' with regard to their race, color, religion, sex and
national origin.
Today quotas and other similar means of implement
ing affirmative action are no longer constitutional.
Consequently, many affirmative action programs have
been quieted and placed in the basement of South
Building. And minority representation in institutions
like Carolina has dropped. Although, past affirmative
action programs have created noticeable and sought-
after results, at least statistically, they have done so using
stigmatizing tactics.
Furthermore, affirmative action never has reached
down into the lower classes of our socio-economic sys
tem. Affirmative action has only benefited the middle
class, with the greatest benefit going to white females.
Students in the poorest schools, such as New York City's
Public School 261, which
is 90% colored and also
an old roller skating
rink, would never be
assisted by affirmative
action. After spend
ing! 8 years receiving a
poor education in our public school system, while expe
riencing persistent poverty, hunger, drug abuse and vio
lence, these children have already been thrown away by
our society. They are already destined to repeat this
cycle in ^ture generations. While violence, sexual
promiscuity and racial discrimination are constantly
promoted through the media, affirmative action does
nothing to reach out to those who are in the most 'tri
fling' situations.
Today, black people have a middle class. Although
middle-class Blacks can feel a little more economic secu
rity, the wealthy white men have gained even more
ground, making socio-economic classes very distinct
and unfair. And at the very bottom, in East St. Louis,
N.Y.C. Public School 261 and Durham's Hillside High,
our poorest people continue to suffer more and more.
For affirmative action programs to be worthwhile they
must reach out to the most disadvantaged people and
level the playing field, making true merit a reasonable
basis for judgement.
"Students in the poorest schools, such as New
York City's Public School 261, which is 90% col
ored and also an old roller skating rink, would
never be assisted by affirmative action."
March 2001
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