In 1965, President Johnson used the term affirmative action to inform federal contractors to treat job-applicants and employees "without regards to their race, color, religion, sex, or national origin" (La Noue). In the preceding year the Civil Rights Act of 1964 was passed simply to make laws fair to all races, sexes, and religions; or "color-blind". However, such a movement went furthe

The University of Texas has also gotten in on the affirmative action fight. Just recently Texas led a ban on race conscious college admissions at all there universities. The argument began when three white applicants sued the school, saying the school excluded them because of their race. In the mid-1990s, the law school offered admission to nonwhite students far out of proportion to their representation in the state's population, the white students claimed. The three sought damages from the school for what they claimed was reverse discrimination. The case failed to make an impact in the federal courts, so the university itself stopped taking those students that had grades below there standards.

Proponents for affirmative action say that if the system is trashed it could lead to "a deterioration in hiring people of color and women" (Solomon). Opponents say that affirmative action just offers a level playing field for those in the minority. They privileges also say that it is making up for the social exclusion in the past by having social inclusion in the present. Also, the majority of the nation doesn't wish to illegalize affirmative action. In a recent study, polls showed rising support of affirmative action. Fifty-sex percent versus forty-nine percent say that such programs are needed to counter bias against women and minorities.(Biskupic)

One other university that has gotten caught up in the most recent affirmative action debate is the University of Michigan. The University of Michigan's law program has also banned all racial bias to anyone that attempts to apply. U.S. District Judge Bernard Friedman acknowledged that there are educational and societal benefits to a racially diverse law school. He said, "It would be unfortunate if the number of students from any racial group would decline" because of his most recent ruling. The judge claimed that one would have a hard time determining the difference between university admissions and a direct quota system.

r than merely giving equal opportunities to everyone. The United States took upon itself the responsibility to give opportunities to minorities by giving them favors such as: hiring, promotion, college admission, and the awarding of government contracts. Such policies did not express the true meaning of equal opportunities, which was introduced in the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and provided for a means in which all people would receive equal treatment, but rather took its own steps into a form of discrimination. Affirmative action is hinder on America's working world by taking away job opportunities form those peoples that are more qualified to hold that position.

Some common words found in the essay are:
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Approximate Word count = 1806
Approximate Pages = 7 (250 words per page double spaced)