Affirmative Action for Racial and Minorities



Affirmative Action for Racial and Minorities

Introduction

The affirmative action policies have emerged from the 60s, at the height of the struggle of black Americans by the end of legal racial segregation hitherto in force various spheres of social life in the United States. In United States (US), affirmation action is the policy which protects the rights of any specific gender, race, religious or country origin. Formally, this policy had introduced by the John F. Kennedy during his election campaign and encouraged US government contractors for this action (Dobbin & Sutton, 1998). Currently, there is hot debate on Affirmative action policy and some critics are actively opposing it. “Today, there is negative perception and stereotyping against the people of black group in the American society which must be stopped for the sake of bright future”. The unfortunate scene is that this negative discrimination is at institutional level and many sections of the society are actively opposing it.

Thesis Statement: “Today, there is negative perception and stereotyping against the people of black group in the American society which must be stopped for the sake of bright future”.

Three historical decisions

Dred Scott v. Sandford

Dred Scott was an African-American slave of Dr. Emerson. He moved along with his master in Illinois, a free state from Missouri, s a slave state. A slave state is one in which selling and buying of slaves is legal and vice-versa. After the death of master, Scott had sued in the court for citizenship. He won the case in lower court, but Supreme Court had given a landmark decision in 1856-57. According to the Court, African Americans have no legally standing in the US for suing because they are not the citizen of America (Finkelman, 2006). Many contemporary intellectuals and leaders of that time had criticized this decision and marked as the worst ever decision in the history of America.

Plessy v. Ferguson

State of Louisiana passed act in 1890 in which it imposed separate but equal accommodation in railway for blacks and whites. The legislatures of Louisiana favored this act in the light of thirteenth and fourteenth amendment. Plessey violated the act and travelled in “Whites Only” car. The case went into Supreme Court and decided against the Plessey. Until the decision of Brown vs. Board of Education, 1954, the doctrine of separate but equal was applied.

Brown v. Board of Education

Linda Brown was a black girl, who denied admission in local elementary school on the basis of race. In addition to that there were many other complains against the inhuman practices of separation. This landmark was decided by the court in 1954 and called Plessy v. Ferguson case as void. The Supreme Court said that it is clear violation of fourteenth amendment. It was unanimous opinion of nine judges. This case had opened the ways of integration in the society and many laws human rights laws also introduced after this case. It has long lasting impacts on the American ...