In preparation for this week's blog, Is Affirmative Action Ethical, I became enthralled with the history of racism in America. Affirmative Action (AA) is but one measure to help one group and even the playing field for another. To gain insight into why such a controversial program and policy was needed and implemented in the workplace we are forced to take a closer look into racial violence and autrocious behavior that for so long defended white supremacy. By today's standards... this reflection is disgusting.
But here we are. Our politically correct society shuns any thoughts of racism, not to even consider speaking negatively towards another "minority" race. The Black Lives Matter movement is protesting in defiance of police brutality while shouting "death to pigs" and rioting.
America is still a very racially charged nation. We just hide it better than we did a hundred years ago. It seems the more we discuss racism the deeper the wedge becomes between the races. As Eugene Robinson put it in his Washington Post article... "America will only end racism when it stops being racist".
Affirmative Action was designed to increase minority representation in America's education system and workplace. It is not surprising that many Americans rejected this idea. AA was a step towards reducing one's race as a disqualifier for school appointment, job, or promotion. The concept of AA was based on the fact that minorities in America, especially blacks, have for many years been members of pervasively, systematically, and continuously victemized races. Compensatory justice demands something be done to help engage racially disprivillaged minority groups climb up out of their stations towards successful generation in society.
Opposition for AA suggests this policy is reverse racism, hurts those who have done no wrong (great-great grandchildren of slave owners and oppressors), stigmatizes minorities who gain traction by AA, and infringes on the rights of employers to hire who they want.
Proponents of AA argue that AA promotes those who are qualified to enter a school, job, or a promotion, but are passed over due to the sheer fact that their skin color is not white. "The most deserving" idea is relative at best (LaFollette, 2007). If 12% of Americans are black it would stand to reason that 12% of the workforce would be black, but it's not by half. Reducing 6% of non-black applicants to acquire a more fair representation in the workforce is a step in the right direction for a culture of blacks who have for centuries been deemed second class citizens.
The problem with AA is that it fails to deal with the root causes of racism in America, just like every other piece of legislation, doled out punishment for racial offenders, or punitive action to promote a particular races' cause. Healing is not found in treating the symptoms. Healing only happens when you isolate the root cause and repair the damage. For example, say I break my leg and the doctor gives me Motrin for the pain. No cast. No splint to help repair the broken bone. My leg will never heal properly without fixing the bone. In fact, once my leg heals incorrectly, affecting my walk for ever, it can only be fixed by rebreaking the bone... causing more pain and longer recovery. That's what happens when you only treat the symptoms.
AA, while a sound effort to increase equality in America, still only focuses on reducing symptons of poverty, discrimination, and oppression. However, it has opened doors for those who may never have had a shot otherwise.
There are deontological and consequentialistic view points for AA. Racism is wrong, and not offering an opportunity to better one's self is wrong (deontological). By not offering opportunities to minorities we will continue to see those same minority groups stagnate in their little corners of America (consequentialism). Ethically, we should be looking to provide opportunities for those who want them, are willing to work for them, and who will do the most good with the opportunities they strive for.
Affirmative Action has both good and bad properties. In the vien of ethics, AA is a step towards recognizing that minorities deserve the chance to succeed in life, but we already know that... or should by now. You know what is not ethical by any stretch of the imagination? How we treated blacks for the first 400 years of our countries history. While white Americans cannot be held accountable for the actions of their ancestors, we do have a respponsibility to promote the American dream to ALL Americans regardless of race, gender, sexuality, or religion. That is ethical.
JP
LaFollette, H. (2007). The practice of ethics. Blackwell Publishing. Malden, MA.
https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/the-roots-of-racism/2015/06/22/24e61d56-1909-11e5-bd7f-4611a60dd8e5_story.html
But here we are. Our politically correct society shuns any thoughts of racism, not to even consider speaking negatively towards another "minority" race. The Black Lives Matter movement is protesting in defiance of police brutality while shouting "death to pigs" and rioting.
America is still a very racially charged nation. We just hide it better than we did a hundred years ago. It seems the more we discuss racism the deeper the wedge becomes between the races. As Eugene Robinson put it in his Washington Post article... "America will only end racism when it stops being racist".
Affirmative Action was designed to increase minority representation in America's education system and workplace. It is not surprising that many Americans rejected this idea. AA was a step towards reducing one's race as a disqualifier for school appointment, job, or promotion. The concept of AA was based on the fact that minorities in America, especially blacks, have for many years been members of pervasively, systematically, and continuously victemized races. Compensatory justice demands something be done to help engage racially disprivillaged minority groups climb up out of their stations towards successful generation in society.
Opposition for AA suggests this policy is reverse racism, hurts those who have done no wrong (great-great grandchildren of slave owners and oppressors), stigmatizes minorities who gain traction by AA, and infringes on the rights of employers to hire who they want.
Proponents of AA argue that AA promotes those who are qualified to enter a school, job, or a promotion, but are passed over due to the sheer fact that their skin color is not white. "The most deserving" idea is relative at best (LaFollette, 2007). If 12% of Americans are black it would stand to reason that 12% of the workforce would be black, but it's not by half. Reducing 6% of non-black applicants to acquire a more fair representation in the workforce is a step in the right direction for a culture of blacks who have for centuries been deemed second class citizens.
The problem with AA is that it fails to deal with the root causes of racism in America, just like every other piece of legislation, doled out punishment for racial offenders, or punitive action to promote a particular races' cause. Healing is not found in treating the symptoms. Healing only happens when you isolate the root cause and repair the damage. For example, say I break my leg and the doctor gives me Motrin for the pain. No cast. No splint to help repair the broken bone. My leg will never heal properly without fixing the bone. In fact, once my leg heals incorrectly, affecting my walk for ever, it can only be fixed by rebreaking the bone... causing more pain and longer recovery. That's what happens when you only treat the symptoms.
AA, while a sound effort to increase equality in America, still only focuses on reducing symptons of poverty, discrimination, and oppression. However, it has opened doors for those who may never have had a shot otherwise.
There are deontological and consequentialistic view points for AA. Racism is wrong, and not offering an opportunity to better one's self is wrong (deontological). By not offering opportunities to minorities we will continue to see those same minority groups stagnate in their little corners of America (consequentialism). Ethically, we should be looking to provide opportunities for those who want them, are willing to work for them, and who will do the most good with the opportunities they strive for.
Affirmative Action has both good and bad properties. In the vien of ethics, AA is a step towards recognizing that minorities deserve the chance to succeed in life, but we already know that... or should by now. You know what is not ethical by any stretch of the imagination? How we treated blacks for the first 400 years of our countries history. While white Americans cannot be held accountable for the actions of their ancestors, we do have a respponsibility to promote the American dream to ALL Americans regardless of race, gender, sexuality, or religion. That is ethical.
JP
LaFollette, H. (2007). The practice of ethics. Blackwell Publishing. Malden, MA.
https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/the-roots-of-racism/2015/06/22/24e61d56-1909-11e5-bd7f-4611a60dd8e5_story.html
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