Issue Paper Due

Gov. and Politics

Leneisa Parks
Is Affirmative Action a Negative: Policy v. Practice?
Yogi Berra, a major league baseball icon, once said, In theory there is no difference between
theory and practice. In practice there is. Modern day America has tried to right the wrongs of social
injustices for over half a century. Leaving the days of slavery behind, America has progressed leaps and
bounds in ideals centered on social equality. Countless action via Supreme Court cases and legislative
mandates and policies have paved the way for many groupings of people to express and promote
diversity in its purest form. However, one can lead a horse to water, but one cannot make the horse
drink. Equality among all peoples has proved easier to legislate than to achieve in practice. This is most
evident in the needed, but questionable practice of affirmative action in establishments of higher
education.
President John F. Kennedy released the affirmative action mandate in 1961. This executive
mandate, known as Executive Order 10925, stated clearly Kennedys expectation in regards to treatment
of minority members. Federal agencies and all institutions receiving federal funding were to take
affirmative action to ensure that applicants are employed, and that employees are treated during
employment, without regard to their race, creed, color, or national origin. Since 1965 Institutions were
to document and submit reports on their efforts to utilize this new principle. (Cornell Law)
Affirmative Action was created as a reactionary process to correct the present day effects of
historical harms committed by majority members to minority parties. The process is designed to
eliminate unlawful discrimination. (Cornell Law) As it pertains to higher education, affirmative action will
allow two applicants, one being white and the other black, holding the same credentials to apply to the
same university, yet only the black student will be chosen due solely to his/her race. The majority

member is perceived to be from a place of societal privilege and advantage, whereas the minority
member is perceived to be from a place of societal disadvantage.
To adequately express how affirmative action has become a hot topic for supporters of equality
as well as a red flag for racism, one must first establish what equality and racism are. Equality exists in
different facets, the one most relevant to affirmative action is Equality of Opportunity. Equality of
Opportunity, as defined by The Challenge of Democracy (pg.16), is the idea that each person is
guaranteed the same chance to succeed in life. (Challenge of Democracy) Policy, such as Affirmative
action, was created to support this. Starting with Brown v. The Board of Education in 1954, which
desegregated schools, equality in education has been pushed. (Stallion) Though policy is created,
practice is hard to follow. Social stigmas and biases have been in place for centuries and tend to over
shine policy. Though affirmative action makes a positive push for equality, it cannot silence the tongues
and criticisms of those acting on their freedoms and standing for their right to equality.
This is where Affirmative Action tip-toes on the line of racism. According to Merriam-Webster
Dictionary racism is defined as a belief that race is the primary determinant of human traits and
capacities, racial prejudice or discrimination. (Merriam-Webster) The common argument against
Affirmative Action is the belief that it is a form of favoritism, which in turn, is a form of discrimination.
Commonly labeled reverse racism, society has progressed in its efforts to further racial equality and now
questions the necessity of a mandate such as affirmative action. Susan Estrich, discrimination expert and
director for the Democratic National Platform, expressed her belief that affirmative action was never
meant to be permanent a course of action. Her, as well as many others, believe that Affirmative Action
has run its course, and new form of action should be taken in the name of true racial equality.
Though society has grown tremendously to accept and appreciate differences, one must not
forget the devil that still must be faced. American society is only half a century removed from presegregation days. Societal biases and shocking cultural differences reveal themselves daily. Racism and

segregation may not be as tolerated and overt as the early 1900s, but it is still in active effect in the
American higher education system.
Majority-based statistics far outpace minority-based statistics in most cases of education. The
unfortunate trend noted by Young M. Kim and the American Council of leadership was that education
achievement is gapped by various races. Asian Americans increased their academic achievement
percentage from 54.2 percent to 65.6 percent, and whites increased from 38.5 percent to 44.9 percent.
The trend of increasing has maintained over the years. However, for blacks and Hispanics an observable
increase was not seen, leaving these particular races at 25 percent and 18 percent. College enrollment
continues to increase, however, minority retention continues to decrease. (Young)
Many argue on why this disparity exists. Whether it be societal biases, lack of initiative, or any
other view the American Governing system has created policy to regulate the issues faced by minority
members. Affirmative Action is one policy that has benefitted minorities, especially in urban regions.
(Schuck) In counties and states with high minority residents education tends to droop and continued
education tends to slack. Affirmative action tips the balance of a generic education system that does not
account for all economic standings or backgrounds. Many changes have been created to support
growth, but continued implementation is still necessary to actually grow.
Society is not equal, differences are real. To overcome differences, policy is put into action to
make steps toward being equal. Understanding the foundational principles behind Affirmative Action,
and mandates like it, is only the surface of an iceberg. Affirmative Action as a policy is only a goodintentioned thought. Affirmative Action as practice creates a society that is attempting to even out an
educational playing field. Everyone has a role to play. Institutions are to accept diverse applications
giving everyone equal opportunity, while people, majority and minority alike, must apply and retain until
the goal is the met. Policy can be made, but the people must practice.

Bibliography:
Janda, K., & Berry, J. (2014). Freedom, Order, or Equality, pg. 16. In The challenge of democracy:
Government in America (12th ed.). Boston: Houghton Mifflin.
Kim, Young & American Council on Education (2011). Minorities in Higher Education. Twenty-Fourth
Status Report (2011 Supplement). ACE
Legal Information Institute (1992). Affirmative Action. Cornell University Law School. Retrieved from
http://www.law.cornell.edu/wex/affirmative_action
Racism. (2011). In Merriam-Webster.com.\
Retrieved Sept. 23, 2014, from http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/racism
Schuck, P. H. (2014). Assessing Affirmative Action. National Affairs, 2076-96.
Stallion, K. (2013). Brown v. Board of Education and its Impact on Admissions in Higher Education.
LOGOS: A Journal Of Undergraduate Research, 665-79.