A634.4.3.RB - Is Affirmative Action Ethical?

The history of race relations in the United States has a checkered past.  The first slaves were brought to the American Colonies in 1619, and the practice of slavery continued to be commonplace throughout the time of the Revolution.  However, shortly after America won its independence some people began to see the oppression of slaves as analogous with the oppression of the colonies under British rule.  Abolitionists became more vocal in the early decades of the 1800’s.  President Abraham Lincoln emancipated the slaves in 1863.  The 13th Amendment to the Constitution in 1865 officially abolished slavery (History.com, 2020).  Despite the fact that slavery ended in 1865, racism has continued to be a major issue in the United States to the present day.  

LaFollette (2007) indicated that racism is such a persistent problem because it is essentially a habit.  “What is modern racism?  It is an inability or unwillingness to acknowledge the role that habits and institutions play in perpetuating racism, and it is an unwillingness to do anything about it” (p. 85).  In an effort to right the many wrongs and injustices that have occurred over the last few centuries and give minority groups an opportunity to advance in society, affirmative action was implemented in the 1960s.  Affirmative action is “The practice of giving special consideration to minorities and women in hiring and school placement” (Lafollette, 2007, p. 87).  Supporters of affirmative action argue that victims of past discrimination were so far behind in the economic race that they would never have equal opportunities without preferential treatment (Yates, 1994).

I believe that there were certain benefits that came from affirmative action within the first generation of implementation.  Opportunities were given to minorities who would not have been able to advance in society without affirmative action and procedures were put in place to prevent unlawful discrimination among job applicants.  These are positive outcomes.  However, over the decades since implementing these laws, the reach of affirmative action has grown.  I believe that there are now more negative consequences of affirmative action than benefits.  I believe the idea of affirmative action has become obsolete.  Clearly there is still racism in the United States, but not to the extent that existed in the past.  Today affirmative action leads to greater racial division, more groups defining themselves as victims, and unfavorable performance in school (Yates, 1994).  Additionally, affirmative action demeans true minority achievement.

Affirmative action makes people think about their differences instead of what we have in common and perpetuates the cycle of racism.  In order to take advantage of affirmative action people must identify with a group that has been defined as underprivileged.  Today the affirmative action umbrella covers roughly two-thirds of the population in the United States with disabled and homosexuals being recent entrants (Yates, 1994).  “The prevailing philosophy of multiculturalism which now underwrites much discussion of race, ethnicity, and gender has fueled division by emphasizing differences between groups” (Yates, 1994, para. 5).  It will not be possible to achieve a truly color blind society while affirmative action exists. We cannot possibly expect people's habits and attitudes about racism to change, and to see each other as equals when our institutions and government promote and reward groups for seeing each other differently.

Providing under-qualified students the opportunity to attend elite schools does not help them out in the long run.  Oftentimes these students struggle to make passing grades and are frequently at the bottom of their classes and a higher percentage drop out than before affirmative action (Miller, 2015).  This would be akin to a AA Minor League baseball player being given a spot on a Major League team simply because he did not have equal opportunities as a youth.  This would not help him to achieve his goals or help his self-esteem.  This is not to say that minority groups are less capable, that is simply not the case.  There are brilliant members of every race and culture.  However, lowering the admission standard for certain minority groups does not help them perform at higher levels.  Additionally, by lowering hiring or admissions standards excellence is not rewarded.  The United States has become less competitive in some markets, such as science, as a result of affirmative action (Miller, 2015).

The original intent of affirmative action was to provide equal opportunity for minorities who faced discrimination.  However, equal opportunities were supplanted by special opportunities and privileges.  I believe education is key.  We should teach our children that racism is unfair in any form.  We should allow the free market to determine what is acceptable.  Bigotry and prejudice are no longer generally acceptable practices as they were in past generations (Yates,1994).  I believe an openly racist business could not survive today.  We do not need the government to step in and tell us what is “fair.”  People join together to boycott organizations they consider unethical.  The free market would allow deserving individuals, regardless of race, or any other minority description they ascribe to, to achieve organic success.

Many will oppose my thoughts suggesting that I do not allow room for reparations of past harms.  Although I agree that certain groups have suffered immeasurable harm, I ask how long must reparations continue?  There have been many groups that have been harmed by others.  I am a descendant of Mormon pioneers who were exiled from the United States because of their religion, a country that guaranteed religious freedom.  My fourth great-grandfather was murdered because of his faith in Missouri, a state that had issued an extermination order, making it legal to kill Mormons (Lisa, 2013).  That order was not rescinded until 1976 (Lloyd, 2010).  That’s right, it was legal to kill Mormons in the state of Missouri until 1976!  However, I do not feel that anybody owes me anything.

References

History.com Editors. (2020, February 21). Slavery in America. Retrieved from https://www.history.com/topics/black-history/slavery

Lisa, M. (2013, August 3). Nancy Elston Hammer: A Personal Account from the Haun’s Mill Massacre. Retrieved from https://historyofmormonism.com/2013/08/03/nancy-elston-hammer-personal-account-hauns-mill-massacre/

Lloyd, S. R. (2010, May 31). Former Missouri governor honored for rescinding Mormon 'extermination order'. Retrieved from https://www.deseret.com/2010/5/31/20118153/former-missouri-governor-honored-for-rescinding-mormon-extermination-order

Miller, B. (2015, August 15). 20 Principal Pros and Cons of Affirmative Action. Retrieved from https://greengarageblog.org/20-principal-pros-and-cons-of-affirmative-action

LaFollette, H. (2007). The Practice Of Ethics. Malden, MA: Blackwell Publishing.

Yates, S. (1994, July 1). The Ethics of Affirmative Action. Retrieved from https://fee.org/articles/the-ethics-of-affirmative-action/