Essay, Research Paper: Affirmative Action

What is affirmative action? The purpose of affirmative action is to bring about increased opportunities for disadvantaged
groups. The supposed goal is to move beyond equal opportunity and towards equal results, but is that the case? Is affirmative action
really fair? Since setting different standards for different races prohibits equality, affirmative action is wrong and does not represent
true equality.
Affirmative action tried to help women and minorities, but in the process, reverse discrimination has taken place. Its policies
judge people solely on skin color and gender.
An example is the Supreme Court case of Regents of the University of California verses Bakke (1978). A program was introduced at
University of California at Davis for physicians in California. The medical school set aside 16 of a total of 100 places in the entering
class for disadvantaged groups. One white applicant who did not make the freshman class was Allan Bakke. After receiving his
rejection letter from Davis for two straight years, Bakke learned that the acceptances of the admitted students were based on test
scores, and Bakke s scores were respectively higher. He decided to sue UC-Davis, claiming that it had denied him equal protection of
the laws by discriminating against him because of race. Even though affirmative action was created as a helping action, reverse
discrimination is still discrimination. Thus, discrimination is wrong.
Instead of affirmative action, opportunities should be awarded and deserved. Referring back to the UC-Davis v.s. Bakke case,
the Supreme Court ruled in favor of Bakke, as should. The Court ordered Bakke admitted, holding that the UC-Davis Special
Admissions Program did discriminate against him because of his race. Yet, the Court refused to order UC-Davis never to use race as
a criterion for admission. A university could, said the Court, adopt an admissions program where race or ethnic background is
simply one element, to be weighed fairly against other elements in the selection process. It could not, set aside a quota of spots for
a particular group. Still, that is unfair. Affirmative action gives opportunities to disadvantaged groups based on skin color, and may
leave truly qualified people that aren t in that group stranded with no award. Is that equality? I think not! Equality is equal opportunity
for anyone based on true capability.
Why should some people get special preferences over others when it isn t rightfully deserved? Everyone has the opportunity to advance in this country, you just have to take the initiative. As a diligent minority affected by affirmative action, it is incredibly belittling to be given an opportunity based on pity, rather than one that is truly earned.