Affirmative Action has long been proposed to be a solution to the injustices that were done to minorities years ago. Originating over thirty years ago in 1964, it allowed minorities easier access to jobs and education that were normally saved for only mostly white Americans. The Affirmative Action program is defined as a series of procedures, steps, programs, and policies designed to overcome the effects of past discrimination on present day minority members (Encyclopedia Americana 241). It has now been many decades since the program's induction into society, and it has made radical changes in the way minorities are treated. We are now living in a more equal society than ever before, but we still have affirmative action. Some people are tired of the program, arguing that it has run its course. Yet others think it is still needed and is still very much an important part of American society. Maybe there is a happy medium that can be met. So today we ask the question: What should be done with the affirmative action program? Reform is the answer.

This program has always been a very controversial issue, in the area that people are hearing several more complaints of

Hooks, Bell. "Multiculturalism Can Help End Discrimination." Discrimination: opposing viewpoints. Ed. Mary E. Williams. San Diego, CA: Greenhaven Press, 1997. 192.

One main reason that certain people feel that the program should stay the same is the Equal Protection clause of the Fourteenth Amendment (Howard 22). This clause made it unlawful for states to discriminate against minorities, but left private parties to do as they please, whether it is racial discrimination or hiring practices (Howard 23). As we can see here, the left wing's radical approach to the program, believing that nothing should be changed, is tearing at the fabric of a peaceful, nondiscriminatory society. These people should be one of the main groups that should be opened up to the possibilities of reform.

Hartmann, Heidi "Who Has Benefitted From Affirmative Action in Emplyment." Affirmative Action Debate. Ed. George E. Curry. New York: St. Martin's Press, 1991. 79.

Action program has already given them an advantage, in certain fields over the majority, by lowering required standards on tests and job

Another way to reform would be to do away with the ethnic background section on most applications (ex. credit cards, universities, jobs). By going through this process employers and agencies would have to look at the applicant's qualifications instead of, in some cases, personal preference of color or gender. Doing this would also greatly decrease the amount of lawsuits over race discrimination that would be filed in court. I believe that a person that is a member of a minority group would be highly appreciative about this change, because it would show them that they are

A third possibility would be to discontinue the quota process, in which an employer must hire so many of a certain minority group. This process, I believe, causes great frustration and annoyance for people qualified for a job but turned away because a quota on their ethnic group has been met. The majority sees this as preferential treatment towards minorities, and as giving them an unfair advantage (Benekrahm, Feagin 177). In one instance where this was a problem was in the 1980 Supreme Court case Fullilove vs. Klutznick (Encyclopedia Americana 241). This case was based on the fact that a contractor that was not under bid did not get the contracting work because it was given to a minority contractor. Although the constitutionality of the federal public works legislation was upheld by the Supreme Court, this shows that there are instances when the Affirmative Action program can seem unfair. This here is another reason

Benekrahm, Nigehe V., and Joe R. Feagin. Affirmative Action and Equal Opportunities: Action, Inaction, Reaction. New York: Routledge, 1994.

why we should

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