Affirmative Action Yes or No
... One such approach to reimbursement is a program called affirmative action. The program can be defined as “if a government or an organization takes affirmative action, it gives preference to women, black people, or other groups which are often treated unfairly, when it is choosing people for a job” (Cambridge Dictionary). ... Scholars and policy makers have struggled to develop assumptions on if affirmative action is the best plan to put an end to the racial discrimination. ... The people who are opposed to affirmative action feel that it is reverse discrimination in which a majority group is biased against. Writers Stanley Fish and Shelby Steele take different stances on whether affirmative action is helpful and positive way to fight discrimination; I, however do not take either of the sides of the issue. Main Issues It is a difficult to determine what the most competent arguments for or against affirmative action should be. ... Author, Stanley Fish (who is in favor of affirmative action programs), bases his essay on the reasoning that the racial preferences involved with affirmative action are not reverse discrimination, but rather are retribution to the past history of oppression that the minorities suffered, specifically the African Americans. ... I am, however, uncertain if affirmative action is the correct way to offer payback just for what was done in the past. ... Author, Shelby Steele a proponent of affirmative action, argues that injustice cuts both ways and affects all races, sexes, and groups, thus “balancing the scales of history” offering that as enough repayment. ... I feel that is truthful, and shows that by focusing on what we did in the past and how we can repay them through affirmative action does not give the most benefit to the character of the minorities. Programs like affirmative action are obviously designed and intended to help people, but I feel that there is question on whether it benefits or hinders.