Page 4, Portland Observer, February 26, 1986
ROCK A R O U N D
THE CLOCK
History and Status of Affirmative Action
Why Affirmative Action
H\ Ahlnn \h>rrn
American society was founded on ihe principle of equality The Declaration of
Independence declared lhai 'w e hold I he ce truths to he self evident, that all men
are c re.ited equal, thjt they are endowed hy their Creator with certain unalienable
rights, that among these are life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness ." This is one
ol Ihe most profound statements rewardinit human euualitv ever written Yet there
has always been a huge gap between American principles and what it actually
practices Ihis has been especially true in regards to Blacks Enslavement of
Alro Americans had already taken root by the time the Declaration of Indepen
dense and Ihe I ' S Constitution were written Some "founding lathers''including
George Washington, James Madison, and Thomas Jefferson owned slaves at
the federal government established the Equal Employment Opportunity Commis
sion (EEOC) whose purpose »as to investigate and resolve complaints of dis
crimination and initiate suits against guilty employers If discrimination was
proven, the government could deny or terminate any federal funds to such
employers But it soon became clear that these limited measures would not correct
the problem
President Johnson responded by issuing Executive Order 11 246 in 1965 which
called for employers to take Affirmative Action This meant that employers had to
make extra efforts to recruit, hire, and promote minorities so that they could bring
the number of minorities in their work force up to the jxrrcent of minorities in the
local community Nevertheless, Executive Order 11246 did not go far enough
because it relied on the good faith ettorts of employers to implement affirmative
action Under the Nixon Administration in 1972, several Amendments were made
that strengthened Affirmative Action A key amendment required that employers
keep records of their hiring practices and ol the racial and gender composition ol
their labor force Based on these data employers could determine whether they were
overtly or covertly discriminating against minorities and women Draw ing on such
data, employers were to establish Affirmative Action goals, targets, and timela
bles geared toward correcting the obvious results of employment discrimination
In short. Affirmative Action called tor developing concrete action plans which
could he scrutinized by employers and the government This measure had sub­
stance because it stijsulated that no government contract could be withheld, denied
terminated, or susjiended in which a contractor had an affirmative plan unless the
employer had deviated substantially Irom that plan Ihese measures were ex­
tended to educational institutions and had relevancy lor minority businesses
desiring to receive federal contracts In Ihe early 1970s it apjx-ared as it the nation
was headed in the right direction toward solving serious racial inequality rooted
throughout Ihe ixcupational and educational structures ol this countrv
Outcomes and Setbacks
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PCE e le c tr ic ity w o rk s a ro u n d
th e c lo c k . W hen yo u co n sid er
all It does f o r y o u , i t ’s
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a m ig h ty good buy.
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Support Our Advertisers!
Say you saw it in the
fixlay. Affirmative Action is under serious attack hy Ihe Reagan Adiilinisira
non An objective analysisol Affirmative Action reveals that it did reduce sour -of
the discrimination painfully experienced by the black community For example,
lairenzo Morns, in a study on the plight of Black Americans in higher education
found that "more black Ph D 's in virtually every major field graduated between
I974.ind 1977 than had ever graduated in American history " Edmund Newton in
Hhh ( / n terpriii ,s unis out that when Coleman 1 oung became Mavor of Iletroit in
the very time they wrote those magnificent words proclaiming freedom lor
humankind I he constitution itself maintained that Blacks were only three filths ol
a person
Iheieforc. from the very beginning. Blacks were denied equal opportunity in
Ihe Culled Stales Black slavery lasted for nearly two hundred and filly years
Shortly atlei slavery was abolished. Blacks were confronted with another system
ol inequality
legally enforced racial segregation known as Jim Crow Racial
segregation applied to every aspect ol Black life Ihe law required lhai Blacks
attend separate school», ride in the hack section of public buses, go to the hack door
ol restaurants, use different bathrooms, and the like Blacks were disenfranchised
politically because they could not vote nor did they serve as judges and jurors In
lad. rac aal segregation denied Blacks due process ol law Jim Crow also shaped
tlx- economic life ol the Black community A Jim Crow work force deselo|X'd
Iheie weie "Black ' and “ White" jobs Blacks became the sharccropjxTs.
porters, janilots, cooks, maids, domestic servants, and unskilled laborers thus.
Blacks weie crowded into the bottom of the American occupational structure
where the pas was low and the work difficult and dirty Such jobs did not lead to
promotions or advancement Blacks who wanted to burst out ol these dead in jobs
could only aspire to become a Black preacher, teacher, undertaker, doctor, or
lawyer But even here only a lew slots were available
for over three hundred and fifty years. Blacks were crippled by a system that
was separate and highly unequal Dus oppression was backed by white domination
consisting ol both legal and violent repressions Lynching was a favorite tool used
Io keeps Blacks in their place Between IKN2 and 1956 at least .1,440 Blacks
were lynched. Moreover. Ihe system ol racial segregation was hacked bs Ihe
highest legal authority of the land the Supreme Court I he Court, in IX96. ruled
in the I’lessy v Ferguson case that separate but equal did not violate the U S
Constitution Clearly the Supreme Court went on record backing a system ol racial
segregation that was in tact separate but unequal
Past and continuing discrimination has had a devastating affect on the Black
community In the |9H0s Blacks are still disprojsortionately crowded at the bottom
ol tlte occupational ladder Black family income is still less than sixty percent of
w lute family iikoiik " Blacks are still more than tw ice as likely to be unemployed as
whiles Blacks are still grossly underepresented at major colleges and universities
at both the student and faculty levels Therefore, the future tor Black America is
uncertain at best Affirmative Action was a measure implemented by the federal
government Io address Black inequality that resulted from tragic proportions of
past discrimination and continuing racism deeply rooted in the very fabric ol our
instituiions and daily habits But why did "affirmative action" come into being in
(lie lust place ’
Portland Observer!
VIRGINIA SLIMS
You’ve come
a long way, baby.
Origins of Affirmative Action
/Mtit illative Aclion resulted Irom a jvowerful and creative struggle know n as the
civil lights movement I his mass movement attacked black inequality and racial
segiegalion al ihe cote It mobilized thousands ol ordinary and extraordinary Black
people who decided to lake a clear-cut stand tor equality and dignity these
freedom lighters made countless sacrifices by confronting the Ku Mux Kian.
While Citizens Councils, local Southern government», established laws, and the
“ Bull ( onnois Children, students, and adults, along with the elderly shook off
apathy and caution as they became disciplined workers in a movement lor freedom
anchoied on a solid rixk
the Black Church
I he 196.1 Birmingham. Alabama confrontation led by Dr Martin Luther King.
Jr and Reverend l ied .Shuttlesworth was the key force that generated the 1964
Civil Rights \ d Irom which the idea of Affirmative Action emerged In the
historic battle al Birmingham, demonstrators were attacked by vicious dogs, high
pressuie water hoses, billy club sw inging policemen, and a legal system dedicated
to maintaining racial segregation Yet, on every day hetwen April Ird and May 10,
Blacks denionstiaied. sat in, marched, and went Io jail by the thousands while
singing We Shall Overcome" and other Black spirituals This movement gener­
ated such pressure that the racist power holders ol Birmingham were forced to
concede 1«» (he demands of the movement But Dr King and the Freedom Fighters
were alter more than concessions from local Birmingham authorities they wanted
a National Civil Rights Bill from President Kennedy and the federal government
that would outlaw all forms ot racial inequality
I he movement in Birmingham was so beautifully organized and effective that it
geneiated protest movements throughout the nation By Ihe end of 196.1. protest
had spread Irom Birmingham to at least K00 cities John Kennedy, shocked by
widespread demonstrations, declared that it was a lime to act On June 19, 1961,
Kennedv sent what w a s to become Ihe I964 civi I Rights Bill Io Congress President
Johnson signed the bill into law on July 2. 1964 It is beyond a doubt, then, that
Affirmative \ction came as a result ol political struggle and sacrifice by the Black
masses and concerned W hite citizens rather than descending from a benevolent
government
Intent of Affirmative Action
Ihe 1964 Civil Rights Act banned all forms ol discrimination based on race,
color, religion, sex. or national origin Titles VI and VII of this bill sjiecifically
addressed discriminalin in employment Ihese measures were based on Ihe know
ledge that rampant racial discrimination existed in terms of employment Indeed,
hei ause ol their conspicuous absence in many jobs, n was clear that members of
minority gioups were being discriminated against in both federal agencies and the
private sector One intent of the 1964 Act was to correct this discrimination Thus.
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