During the American Revolution Thomas Jefferson and America's founding fathers struggled for freedom and equality. Years of agonizing battling took place, and finally emancipation was gained and America was formed. As a society we have grown to believe that America equals equality, when in fact it does not. When the declaration of independence was created only white male colonists were created equally. Over 224 years have gone by since our foundation was laid, and unfortunately our original goal has not been reached. Liberty and justice for all is still a utopian idea in the minds of many but not all. There are three reasons our society has not reached its original goal. First, there are large numbers of people who believe that other races, and or genders are inferior. Secondly there is evidence that shows minorities including African Americans, Hispanics, and immigrants are being discriminated against in the workplace. Finally, Affirmative Action has not received a fair chance because of myths and misconceptions about the program. For the above three reasons I believe Affirmative Action is a necessity in America. Many Americans are extremely ignorant to the Affirmative Action progr

am. Many feel that Affirmative Action only pertains to Blacks when it reaches so many more. The maintenance of the program is of great importance to our country especially with a new President in soon to be in office. It is of utmost importance that we as a society learn about the program and its benefits so we can prepare for the future, and eventually erase racial and gender issues in every aspect of our country.

In conclusion, my claim is that Affirmative Action is currently needed in America. If America wants to be a truly equal and diverse country, then Affirmative Action needs to continue. Through facts and evidence it is shown that discrimination, ignorance, and feelings of inferiority are widely spread throughout our country. For the preceding three reasons Affirmative Action is a necessity. Americans have been given rights, and those rights include being created and treated equally. It is the duty of the country to uphold that the rights of every citizen are being upheld. The country would do its citizens, including women, elderly, and minority groups a great disservice if the Affirmative Action program ended.

Affirmative Action is all of the above, but it is not reverse discrimination. Affirmative Action is an outreach program that attempts to recruit minority applicants. "It presupposes an undertaking to remedy underutilization of women and minorities through express consideration of race and or gender." (Player 59) Affirmative Action programs are designed to ensure fair criteria for all applicants. Currently, 86% of available jobs are not advertised -- they are filled by word-of-mouth. Since white men still own and manage most US businesses, they tend to know and hire other white male applicants. Affirmative Action creates a level playing field, and some may not receive the advantage they are accustomed too. (Williams 4)

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Approximate Word count = 1464
Approximate Pages = 6 (250 words per page double spaced)