Affirmative action usually takes the form of goals and timetables in order to increase diversity within the corporations, institutions and schools that subscribe to the policies. They may use active recruitment or preference to achieve these goals. The practices of using quotas or giving preferential treatment to less qualified applicants merely because of race or gender are generally condemned in affirmative action.

History
For hundreds of years there was a clear, dominant class in America- white males. African-Americans went from slaves to a heavily oppressed minority; women gained the right to vote in the ‘20s but little else in the way of opportunities in the following decades; people with disabilities were often passed over for jobs that they were entirely capable of performing; and over the years many more new immigrants of all skin colors and backgrounds were pouring in, looking for opportunities that they were continually denied.  

In 1965, President Johnson instituted the policy on Affirmative Action. Affirmative action was originally prescribed as a temporary solution to be used only until there was a “level playing field” for everyone in terms of education, job opportunities, promotions, salaries, etc. 

In the late 70’s, people began to find flaws in the working systems of affirmative action. The first major battle came in the famous Bakke case in which a white student claimed that a medical school had used reverse discrimination against him and two years in a row admitted African-American students who were less qualified than he was. It was shown that the university used this tactic because it had quotas to fill and while the U.S. Supreme Court upheld affirmative action, it denounced the practice of using strict quotas.

After many years of cases going before the Supreme Court and people getting into heated arguments on either side of the debate, in 2003 a landmark decision was passed. This ruling upheld the legality of the ultimate intentions of affirmative action by stating that educational institutions (such as the University of Michigan which was the institution involved in the decision) have a right to use race in determining admissions because a diverse student body is part of what makes the college experience more valuable to the students. Just like recruiting foreign students, athletes or artists, a student’s racial background is something that he/she is bringing to the school. On the other hand, the Supreme Court also ruled that systems which use a strict point system in determining admissions and gives bonus points to minorities and those with disabilities is not a fair way to enforce affirmative action. The final statement by Justice Sandra Day O’Connor asserted that “In order to cultivate a set of leaders with legitimacy in the eyes of the citizenry, it is necessary that the path to leadership be visibly open to talented and qualified individuals of every race and ethnicity.”  

Still, some states like Washington and California have chosen to pass legislation banning affirmative action policies in hiring and admissions.  

Terms

Disadvantaged - Lacking in the basic resources or conditions (as standard housing, medical and educational facilities, and civil rights) believed to be necessary for an equal position in society

Diversity - A group composed of distinguishing attributes, in this case a staff or student body containing people from all different categories. 

Minority - A group which has fewer members and therefore less power in a community; or one that has different characteristics or background than the greater portion of the community.

Preference - When someone has an advantage over another (in this case in hiring or admissions) so that they are more likely to be chosen.

Prejudice - An unjustified and unreasonable bias; a preconceived idea of something or someone.

Quotas - A quota in this case is an exact proportion or number of individuals that an institution is looking for in order to achieve “diversity.”  For instance, a company might say that every year there have to be 20 new African American and 15 women hires. 

Timetables - Schedules for some project- in this case a schedule for achieving “diversity” in a certain institution.

10% Plan - This plan was created in Texas as an alternative form of affirmative action.  It guarantees that the top 10% in every public high school in the state will automatically be accepted to the University of Texas.  This means that students in struggling school systems will not have to compete with students in wealthier schools- all the students who have worked hard and gotten good grades will have the opportunity to attend college.