While studying the issue of affirmative action, I found that the much of the controversy surrounding the program arising from differences in theory and practice. The term affirmative action first came to use under the presidency of John F.Kennedy in the 1961 Executive Order 10925.It was during this time that employers hired and treated workers of different race, ethnicity, religion, and sex in the fair manner. Under the presidency of Johnson the plan came into action as efforts were made to ensure that institutions receiving government funds adhered to laws prohibiting discrimination. While individuals were aware of the long history of oppression, discrimination, and violence minorities had faced in the U.S, the program was not aimed at disadvantaging one race for the benefit of another. The goal was to provide students from minority backgrounds with equal opportunities to receive higher education regardless of their race, class, etc. Nevertheless, the term affirmative action has developed negative connotation as universities and colleges have been banned from the use of quotas during the admission process (University of California v. Bakke). For this paper, I am exploring how the perception of affirmative action has resulted in the recent backlash against the program. I am also studying how the program may or may not differ in practice form theory and what evidence there is to show that it is or is not beneficial. I believe that many view the issue on a personal level and then decide whether or not to support in based on if they feel it is or isn't beneficial to there educational success. I feel this paper will give me an opportunity to inform myself about a controversial issue and to determine how it relates to current friends who are currently applying to universities.
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