Did you watch that news special on (I think) the University of Michigan. The university currently considers race as one of many factors, including grades, in-state residency and alumni relationships, when weighing an application. However, a professor got a write up of how admissions "weighs" these factors. Out of a possible score of 100, race accounted for 25 points, while grades/test scores was 10.
Affirmative action was a means to an end. The goal was correct, diversity in the workplace, colleges, etc, but the means was way off base. We are going to correct racism with more racism? Two wrongs don't make a right.
Quote:
Affirmative Action was originally intended as a way to insure that QUALIFIED blacks got the same opportunities as whites. It was not about less qualified blacks getting jobs over whites. Now obviously there are going to be issues with an EQUALLY qualified white person losing a job offer to a black person because of skin color, but be glad that you as a white person have always had a free and fair opportunity, something that my ancestors as blacks did not get.
Yes intentions and practice took two different paths. My point is take the most qualified person regardless of race, which is not happening. You spelled out what affimative action was intended to be, not what it is.
In practice many times less qualified people are admitted into schools, or get jobs over more qualified people solely based on race, which is racism, plain and simple. We've come full circle from the racism of the 60s, where a less qualified white guy would be hired becuase he was white. Now a less qualified minority is hired because the boss (whatever race he is) has to meet a certain level of diversity. Or the university admits a less qualified applicant, so it can write how diverse it is in it's admissions pamphlet.
Is diversity a good goal, yes.
Was affirmative action intended to achieve said goal, yes.
In practice is it wrong, yes.
I'm not against the concept of diversity, I'm against instituing a racist policy to achieve equality. Hire or admit soley based on qualifications, Ignore Race 
