Considering the progress, if ever there is, of civil rights in America today, Dr. King would definitely be disappointed. What has been happening to the people of America today is very far from what he had dreamt. Be it remembered that in August 28, 1963, Dr. King delivered in his speech that he has a dream.That dream is for them ” people of America ” to work, pray, go to jail, stand up for freedom and struggle together; with the hope that one day they will be free.
On the issue of affirmative action in these contemporary times, Dr. King would absolutely, without question, do everything that would hurt no single individual to counteract it. Dr. King would do such a thing because it is very clear in his speech that he does not want segregation, and the affirmative action that has been happening is an instrument to segregate the American people.The scenario of division according to race which is prevailing in the country is the very antithesis of Dr.
King’s dream wherein people, regardless of color and race, work as one in a nation where freedom rings from every corner.Moreover, the affirmative action on the racial preference in college admissions will never create a harmonious relationship among people with different colors and races living in the same state or country. This is due to the fact that there is no diversity in a particular college or university which adopts the affirmative action.If there is no diversity there will be no enough interactions among races.
No interaction denies the chance for them to learn and benefit from each other. Furthermore, Dr. King had emphasized in his speech that they will not stop in pursuing equality and justice as long as they experience the horror of racial discrimination, as long as they suffer from police brutality and as long as they are denied of their freedom.The two most compelling arguments I’ve read for the affirmative action are the summary of William Bowen’s book, The Shape of the River, and the excerpts from the College Board Task Force Report ” 1999.In Bowen’s summary of his book, it is stressed that America benefits from racial preference in college admissions as shown by facts. According to him, students ” nonminorities and minorities ” will benefit from their diversity.It was emphasized that racial gaps on achievements should be addressed and resolved, so that America will benefit because people in higher institutions, public officials, leaders of socio-civic organizations and other government authorities are highly diverse. For this to be realized, racial preference in college admissions through selective higher education institutions should be broadened.Moreover, in the latter part of his summary, he also stressed that in our society, race is a very significant factor. Furthermore, he added that racial diversity is advantageous for the American people because every race will be able to learn from another and cope with each race’s behaviors and cultures.Page: 1 of 3On the other hand, the excerpts from the College Board Task Force ” 1999 stressed that the large gaps in the educational achievements among the United State’s racial and ethnic groups should be eliminated. If this will not be materialized, our society’s institutions particularly those at the leadership levels will have no integration at all.Lastly, the Task Force believes that there is a need to affirm to the racial preference in college admissions. This is because they recognize that there is an underachievement among students belonging to the minority groups.The two most compelling arguments I’ve read against the affirmative action are the critiques on River by Curtis Crawford and the reply to the Task Force Report, also by Curtis Crawford.In Crawford’s critique on River, he debunked the assertion of Bowen and Bok that more black students would be lost from top schools if there is no racial preference.In the article Op-Ed: A Particularly Cheap White Whine: Racism, Scholarships and the Manufacturing of White Victimhood, the discrimination against ethnic or racial minorities particularly black people were addressed.It is also pointed out that resources should be directed to racial minorities since they are the ones who cannot afford to send their sons and daughters to school. It is also stressed that efforts or attempt to end the affirmative action on preference in college admissions would definitely have an impact on students, particularly black students and those students who belong to other ethnic minorities.One of the impacts is that students would have fewer opportunities even if they have the abilities or they are highly capable. It was also stated that with this situation, more and more white students will be accepted to schools.The most compelling argument made by John Fund, the author of the article, is the awarding of scholarships to students based on their merits. He explained that scholarships awarded to white students based on their merits add to the injustices happening in the country. This statement is based from the fact that they have accumulated these merits in an unjust society.In the article getting Beyond Race, Justice Sandra Day O’Connor stressed those racial preferences in college admissions will never be an answer to the prevailing racial discrimination. She further added that the said preferences are just a temporary solution to the issue. It should not be treated as a permanent solution.Moreover, it is also explained in the article that the number of black students who got a GPA of 3.5 or better increased significantly after the racial preference was abolished. It is explained that before the abolishment of racial preference, few black students got a GPA of 3.5 or better.The most compelling argument made by the author is that the choice of school would be the best to develop and improve the potentials of every student. This solution particularly helps those disadvantaged students.Page: 2 of 3Finally, after considering all the arguments for and against affirmative action, I believe that preference will never be an answer to racial discrimination that has been happening since then in the country.This racial preference will even create an atmosphere of distinction or shall I say a culture of indifference among races particularly white and black people. This is due tot eh fact that with the affirmative action, the issue of racial preference is taught in schools. Diversity is good but the view of the affirmative supporters should not be limited to just having a diverse population particularly in the higher institutions and other government authorities. In addition, they should not view this as a solution to make integration possible.In the case of defending my opinion, I would suggest that they, particularly the supporters of affirmative action, read the universal declaration of human rights. To give an example, it is stipulated in the declaration that all human beings, regardless of skin color or race, are born free. Aside from this, when it comes to right and dignity, we are all equal. This argument might be too broad but we can base our solutions on this.To eliminate discrimination particularly among students, education ” primary, secondary and tertiary ” should be offered or served in equal opportunity to them regardless of race. Furthermore, when it comes to morality, we judge a certain policy based on its negative and positive aspects. As long as no individual will be harmed, humiliated or degraded, then there is no problem.Finally, it should be inculcated in our minds that for this nation to work as one and live harmoniously and peacefully, we should not look on each other’s skin color, on each other’s negative characteristics and behaviors because these can be changed, and it is nothing but a product of this bourgeoisie society.What we should look at is the positive side in each and every one of us and used this creatively to improve the lives not only of ourselves but of the people in general.
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