Insufficient Affirmative Action

Insufficient Affirmative Action 

"I have a dream…that one day my four little children will not be judged by the color of their skin, but by the content of their character"(King Jr.).   These words were spoken by our most famous Civil Rights activist, Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., who had hopes of racial equality.  Though trying to create racial equality, Affirmative Action has only shifted discrimination. Because this legislative act places unqualified applicants ahead of qualified applicants, it discriminates against the white population, as well as, segregates individuals while increasing racial tensions; Affirmative Action would appear to be insufficient.   Affirmative Action, which means giving "special treatment" to minorities usually in admission to college and universities, as well as, employment in most areas of work was the result of America's tragic history of slavery (Fullinwider 1).  The major victory of the Civil Rights era was the reason for implementation of Affirmative Action to ensure children of all races received similar education (Maltz 9). Unfortunately, Affirmative Action started to bring more problems than it solves.
            Although Affirmative Action is a great idea in theory, giving minorities a chance at success by giving them an unfair advantage has only shifted discrimination.  Affirmative Action was intended to create racial equality, but in many cases in today's society equality between races has been achieved.  White males, who were the origin of our country, are being placed at a disadvantage because they are not a minority.  Unfortunately, Affirmative action has not cured discrimination, but has only increased it.  By trying to achieve racial equality, it as has deepened the crevice in racial discrimination, by placing one race above another.
            Minorities, generally speaking, start out at a disadvantage, because of generational lower family income and poor financial situations.  Also, some minorities live in high-crime and drug infested neighborhoods (Messerli 3). Giving these disadvantaged minorities a chance at a prestigious college and maybe a more successful lifestyle is why Affirmative Action was set up.  These students need a boost and need hope for a better lifestyle.  However, most students in situations like drug-infested neighborhoods aren't going to have the drive to get into prestigious colleges and therefore shouldn’t be given unfair opportunities.  If these individuals worked hard they could pass up the white population without help from Affirmative Action.  The need for racial equality and giving minorities a chance at a successful lifestyle are the main reasons for Affirmative Action.  However Affirmative Action only shifts discrimination and is not needed because a minority with passion for a higher education could receive a higher education if they worked hard.
            With the goal of racial equality in mind, it is ironic that Affirmative Action only increases racial tensions.  While the white population is angry because of the shift in discrimination, the minority is angry because they have to work twice as hard for respect.  For example, ask Secretary of State Dr. Condoleezza Rice or Colin L. Powell how they got to where they are today.  Do you think it's because of hard work and dedication or by Affirmative Action?  Both individuals would be offended to have the reputation of getting their important position only by Affirmative Action (Messerli 2). This shows that minorities have to work twice as hard.  Affirmative Action helps create racially diverse schools, but would we want racially diverse schools with these growing tensions?  We want students to work together, not be skeptical of how their lab partner got into college.  Affirmative Action is, unfortunately, increasing racial tensions, as well as, demeaning true minority achievement.
            Students admitted to universities based solely on Affirmative Action, can be ill-equipped to handle the schools to which they have been admitted to. Affirmative Action place unqualified applicants ahead of qualified applicants, based on race or gander, which lowers the efficiency of a school because of the attendance of ill-equipped students.  For example, say the only African-American basketball player has finally earned a starting position on a mediocre basketball team.  That doesn’t necessarily mean he should be recruited to an NBA basketball team, because he may not be able to play at that level of intensity.  Although there is a possibility of a successful year for him, in most situations he would be in over his head.  This directly relates to Affirmative Action because giving the only African American starter on a mediocre team a chance at professional basketball over a white starter on the best national team deeply hurts the NBA.  It is not right to pass an applicant over because he does not carry the physical genes of a minority.  Prestigious Universities carry their reputation of having the most efficient students for a reason.  Do we really want to send an African-American student with a 3.5 GPA to a university over a white student who has always worked hard and carries a 4.0 GPA?  This would lower the grades at the university and eventually lower the standards to get into prestigious universities.  Students admitted to these universities should be picked solely on the basis of grades, SAT scores, community service, etc.  Skin color should have nothing to do with acceptance to college.
            Although Affirmative Action is positive in theory it only plans to place unqualified applicants ahead of qualified applicants, shifts discrimination to the majority, as well as, increases racial tensions, and therefore should be abolished.  By giving minorities an unfair advantage, Affirmative Action is playing a strong role in crumbling the foundations of racial equality.  So in the words of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.; "Let our children not be judged by the color of their skin, but by the content of their character".