AA Programmes

1
AA Programmes

• There are many arguments FOR and AGAINST these
  programmes, we shall examine some of these.

2
FOR

• They allow people, no matter what their origin to
  achieve the American Dream
• The US constitution states that everyone is born
  equal after all

3
FOR

• Racism still exists in the USA and these
  programmes give minorities the opportunity to
  make social and economic progress

• Benefits community relations as public services
  like the fire service and police have shown that
  a force similar to the community it serves
  develops greater respect and less tension

4
FOR

• With success through education young children are
  afforded the opportunity to have positive role
  models
• Whites have always had AA, its not what you know
  its who you know

• Some argue that if AA programmes were abolished
  then ethnic minorities would regress
• AAPs allow ethnic minorities the chance of a
  better education which is good for the economy in
  general

5
FOR

• Some argue that without AAPs there may not be the
  new middle class African American
• Some believe that it is morally right to redress
  the balance in American society after slavery and
  the Jim Crow laws

6
FOR

• Can be argued to extend the pool of qualified
  labour and expertise which strengthens companies,
  good for USA
• Ladder of opportunity
• Discrimination continues to exist e.g. high
  unemployment rates for blacks, white males tend
  to dominate the top level of companies,
• Blacks unable to break through the glass ceiling
• Complaints of alleged discrimination in housing,
  voting and public housing

7
The USA is still Racist

• A survey by the Massachusetts Institute of
  Technology in 2003 found that when applying for
  jobs, white applicants received one response per
  15 for every 10 CVs
• Blacks with equal credentials received one
  response per 15

8
Summary

• Defenders claim that the playing field is not yet
  level and that granting modest advantages to
  minorities and women is correct given hundreds of
  years of discrimination that benefits whites
• There are social and economic disadvantage
  experienced by minorities which justify the
  continuance of AA
• Still a long way to go before total equality
  achieved

9
AGAINST

• They can lead to reverse discrimination with
  candidates being chosen on their ethnicity not
  their skills
• two wrongs dont make a right, US racist in the
  past but to substitute one form of discrimination
  with another is wrong

• The USA sees itself as a meritocracy
• It should be hard work alone which gives access
  to a good life not race or gender

10
Against

• Save money e.g. government able to accept lowest
  bid for contracts without reference to the
  companys record of minority hiring
• Burden for small companies e.g. paper work

• The elimination of the AAPs would save money as
  government agencies would not have to fund the
  administration of the programmes

11
Against

• Some believe that they have served their purpose
  and the gains have already been made
• It is argued that the programmes mainly help the
  middle class minority who can afford to fund
  their children through college anyway

• The programmes have created an underclass and the
  programmes have merely helped the middle classes
  to detach
• Stigmatise minorities who get jobs through AAPs
• white mans charity

12
Against

• They create tension between minority communities
• Many whites feel they violate their individual
  freedom rather have programmes based on level of
  disadvantage rather than race

13
Overall

• AAPs continue to exist in the USA
• However muddlied by conflicting court rulings
• California in 1996 introduced an initiative
  against AAPs Proposition 209

• The white population generally has swung against
  AAPs
• In June 2003 the US Supreme court narrowly
  re-affirmed its support for AA against the wishes
  of Bush

14
Overall

• The University of Texas and California at Berkley
  have abandoned AAPs
• The Ivy league universities of Yale, Harvard
  and Princeton remain supportes

15
Overall

• Judge OConnar warned that AA should have a
  limited shelf and that in 25 years time, racial
  preferences should no longer be necessary
• Both sides are fired up to maintain their fight