| Following the Civil Rights Movement of the 1950s | | | | adopt a different method for encouraging |
| and 60s, programs were put into place to provide | | | | diversity. Texas, for example, created a law |
| recompense for social groups who were unfairly | | | | which allows the top 10% of a graduating class |
| discriminated against in the past. The programs, | | | | automatic admission into any public school. |
| formally known as affirmative action, | | | | Because schools are still highly segregated, this |
| predominantly focus on providing more | | | | enables many minorities entrance into universities |
| opportunities for African Americans and women. | | | | that they would otherwise not have been |
| Intent and Execution | | | | admitted into if admissions were only merit based. |
| While the intent of affirmative action programs | | | | What Critics Say |
| was to level the previously lopsided playing field of | | | | While affirmative action programs were created |
| employment and education, many people argue | | | | with good intentions, they have garnered quite a |
| that is has merely tilted the field to favor the | | | | bit of opposition. Critics often argue that |
| other side. Execution of affirmative action | | | | affirmative action:o Is a form of reverse racism |
| programs has taken many forms, which vary | | | | that encourages prejudiceo Favors less qualified |
| depending on the institution. | | | | individuals because of their race or gender instead |
| Employment | | | | of merito Punishes current generations for |
| When hiring, many employers strive to achieve a | | | | injustices of the past |
| quota for persons of a particular race or gender. | | | | What Proponents Argue |
| There are a number of systems in place which | | | | Proponents of affirmative action typically argue |
| help employers to accomplish this. A common | | | | that:o Diversity is an end that is worth the means |
| method of encouraging diversity is by means of a | | | | because it is more representative of the |
| test. Potential employees are required to take a | | | | populationo Injustices of the past must be |
| hiring exam, and, after the exams are scored, | | | | recompensedo Affirmative action programs do |
| candidates of a certain race or gender receive | | | | not just target race, they also consider gender |
| additional points. After exams are compared, the | | | | and class |
| highest scores are offered the job. | | | | Regardless of what side of the debate you fall on, |
| Universities | | | | it is important to be aware of both sides of the |
| It was ruled illegal for universities to have numeric | | | | argument, and to understand the reasoning behind |
| quotas for groups of people, so they had to | | | | these programs. |