Affirmative Action2

A detailed Summary of Affirmative Action2

I. "We didn't land on Plymouth Rock, my brothers and sisters - Plymouth Rock landed on us!" Malcolm X's observation is brought out by the facts of American History. Snatched from their native land, transported thousands of miles - in a nightmare of disease and death - and sold into slavery, blacks were reduced to the legal status of farm animals. Even after emancipation, blacks were segregated from whites - in some states by law, and by social practice almost everywhere. American apartheid continued for another century.

In 1954 the Supreme Court declared state-compelled segregation in schools unconstitutional, and it followed up that decision with others that struck down many forms of official segregation. Still, discrimination survived, and in most southern states blacks were either discouraged or prohibited from exercising their right to vote. Not until the 1960's was compulsory segregation finally and effectively challenged. Between 1964 and 1968 Congress passed the most sweeping civil rights legislation since the end of the Civil War. It banned discrimination in employment, public accommodations (hotels, motels, restaurants, etc.), and housing; it also guaranteed voting rights for blacks in

II. SJR N (S-2) is on the Conservative side of things, in that, the legislation is trying to stop "reverse racism". There really is no moderate way to look at affirmative action; you can either be for it or against it. Sen. Bill Bullard Jr. was the chair and sponsor of this bill, but when he met with the other members of this committee it was stated in the minutes of the meeting that "...the issue will not be voted on today", nor does he (Bill Bullard) intend to press for a vote in the Legislature this year. There will be future opportunities for all who wish to contribute to this dialogue to have their views heard. The committee then had a long list of testimony from those who opposed SJR N (S-2). It was then stated that this constitutional amendment if approved by a two-thirds vote of the Senate and House of Representatives, would be submitted to the voters at the next general election. The bill was never brought before senate, it was basically killed in committee.

Advocates of affirmative action have focused upon these differences to support their argument that it is no longer enough just to stop discrimination. Liberal Democrats feel that the damage done by three centuries of racism now has to be remedied, they argue, and effective remediation requires a policy of "affirmative action." At the heart of affirmative action is the use of "numerical goals." Opponents call them "racial quotas." Whatever the

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Approximate Word count = 961
Approximate Pages = 4 (250 words per page double spaced)

Category: Politics