Affirmative Action in Educatio
Affirmative Action in EducatioBy: Radhika Inaganti
E-mail: [email protected]
The policy of affirmative action in education will no longer be needed in the near future. In the past, however, legislators determined that in order to prevent racial discrimination affirmative action would be needed. Recent demographic studies indicate that the Caucasian race will steadily decrease as the present populations of minorities increase. Factors such as fewer white births, an influx of immigrants, and an increase in interracial marriage will play a major role in contributing to this change. Affirmative action programs are operated by the federal, state, and local governments specifically intended to increase the number of opportunities for various groups, including women, racial, and ethnic minorities. (Http://www.vote96.ss.ca.gov) For example, affirmative action promotes the hiring of less skilled workers, giving the employer no choice other than to choose the best of the minority workers they can find, regardless of job skill requirements. (Http://www.inmotionmagazine.com/feed1.html.) According to Ernest Pasour, "the phrase affirmative action was first used in a racial discrimination context," which was issued by President John F. Kennedy in 1961. (Http://www.self-gov.org/freeman/8901paso.htm) He said, "It indicated that federal contractors should take affirmative action to ensure that applicants and employees are treated without regard to their race, creed, color, or national origin". (Http://www.self-gov.org/freeman/8901paso.htm) The growing United States population of minorities in the 21st century will eventually surpass the population of the Caucasian race for the first time in 1 Inaganti history, a change that will become evident in politics, education, industry, values, and culture, according to William A. Henry III (Beyond the Melting Pot 28). One authority says as of now one in every four Americans defines himself/herself as either non-white or Hispanic (Beyond the Melting Pot 28). According to Michael Lind, California, Texas, New York, and eventually the whole country will soon acquire or have already acquired non-white majorities (The End of the Rainbow 39). A typical U.S. citizen as defined by the United States Census Bureau is someone who traces his or her descent in a direct line to Europe (Beyond the Melting Pot 28). Henry says, "if the current trends in immigration and birth rates persist, the Hispanic population will have further increased an estimated twenty-one percent, the Asian presence about twenty-two percent, African-Americans twelve percent, and Caucasians a little more than two percent, when the 20th century ends (Beyond the Melting Pot 28). Immigration, intermarriage, decrease in white births, and interracial births are all factors causing the Caucasian race to become a minority. Authorities have reported that from the mid-1985 to 1990, eleven million new jobs opened up while the total working population grew by only five million (The Case For Immigrants F6). As we progress into the next millennium their will most probably be an increase in demand for skilled and professional workers, and it will become harder and harder for employers to fill positions. The United States in turn may have to look abroad for these qualified professionals whom may have Asian, African, or Latin American backgrounds. As...
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