A Rising Number of Politicians and Their Constituents Have Started the Idea That Affirmative Action Is in Actuality, Reverse Racism, but Is It Really?

A rising number of politicians and their constituents have started the idea that affirmative action is in actuality, reverse racism, but is it really? Let me start by saying that I agree with affirmative action. Taking many factors into consideration, it just serves as means of "leveling the playground." People may argue that it is unconstitutional or that it produces stigma for the potential employer in the later future towards that person, questioning whether or not they or not they got into the college they did on their own, or, it may lead to personal stigma where you begin to doubt yourself and you're abilities, but I strongly disagree. Our president, Barack Obama, made it in into Yale on affirmative action and you dare not question him and his abilities. He was wonderful enough to make it into the presidency. In fact, Associate Court Justice, Sonia Sotomayor describes herself as the "perfect affirmative action baby." By taking away affirmative action you take away and lessen the probabilities for many Obamas and Sotomayors of the future; those who have the potential and the ability, but unfortunately not the opportunity to make it into the college that would help them most.

The notion of affirmative action first appeared when President Kennedy issued an Executive Order in 1961 when he told government contractors to "take affirmative action" to ensure that the work force was free of racial discrimination. From that time it has served as something to even the playfield for everyone, giving blacks and Hispanics a hand to achieve higher education. What we need to understand is that affirmative is what stands between us and Ivy League colleges; the gatekeeper to the great professions. Affirmative action is necessary to give all Americans an opportunity to be successful and to counteract the discrimination that still exists in modern society. Not only that, but it helps blacks and Hispanics overcome some of the clear differences in living conditions between people of different races. Unfortunately, these differences still exist and eliminating affirmative action now would be premature for our nation.

"Despite the progress that has been made, the playing field is far from level. Women continue to earn 76 cents for every male dollar.... Black people continue to have twice the unemployment rate of White people, twice the rate of infant mortality, and just over half the proportion of people who attend four years or more of college.... In fact, without affirmative action the percentage of Black students at many selective schools would drop to only 2% of the student body...." (Scott Plous, PhD)

Also we need take into perspective that there is already a shortage of diversity in the work force. According to the National Organization for Women, "White men hold 95% to 97% of the high-level corporate jobs. And that's with affirmative action programs in place. Imagine how low