Race continues to be America's greatest drama and a central
focus of
public policy. A major consequence of the Civil Rights Movement was the
passage of legislation to establish anti-discriminatory and set-aside
programs for racial and ethnic minorities. Title VII of the 1964 Civil
Rights Act -- outlawing employer discrimination against blacks and other
minorities -- and Executive Order 11246 -- requiring federal contractors
to establish affirmative-action plans for complying with Title VII --
became the centerpieces of the new policies. Narrowly construed,
Affirmative Action refers only to these items of legislation. In everyday
usage, however, it embraces all efforts to improve minority opportunities,
regardless of whether they are mandated by federal law. Although
Affirmative Action had opponents from the beginning, it was only in the
1980s that it came under serious attack. As our century draws to an end,
steps are being taken to reverse government policies that have been in
effect for three decades.
Together, we will review the history of Affirmative Action, its
consequences, and possible alternatives for the next century. The seminar
will begin with a historical sketch of government actions regarding race
and ethnicity, followed by an analysis of the costs and benefits of
Affirmative Action. Attention to unintended effects and tensions between
economic efficiency and procedural justice will anchor our review. Among
lthe issues to be examined are the pros and cons of racial and ethnic
categorization, the rise of "reverse discrimination," and the extent to
which the intentions of Affirmative Action have been confounded by
disparities in socio-economic status.
Finally, we will ask whether it is within the proper domain of government
to attempt to achieve racial/ethnic equality. We will explore
alternatives, such as policies based on social class and income rather
than race or ethnicity. We will also study government interventions
(investment in education, mentorship programs, business formation) that
may have an indirect but positive effect on racial and ethnic equality.
Links that may be of interest:
THE CIVIL RIGHTS
MOVEMENT AND THE LEGACY OF MARTIN LUTHER KING, JR.
|Photo
Tour of the Civil Rights Movement
|
Civil
Rights Movement
|CIVIL RIGHTS ACT
OF
1964
|
Civil Rights Act of 1964
|The U.S. Equal Employment
Opportunity Commission
|Civil Rights
Commission Reauthorization Act>
|CIVIL RIGHTS ACT
OF
1991
|PRESIDENT CLINTON'S
REMARKS ON AFFIRMATIVE ACTION
|Maintaining
Affirmative Action
|Californians for Justice
|Professor Brown Shoes
and Me
|Department of Justice:
Proposed Reforms to Affirmative Action in Federal Procurement
|New affirmative
action director selected
|United
States
Department of Labor Office of Administrative Law Judges Law Library:
Titles 3-4 Affirmative Action Plans
|United States.
Fourth District Court of Appeals. Podberesky v. Kirwan. 38 F.3d 147
1994
|S. 318 -- An act to
amend the Civil Rights Act of 1964
|Affirmative Action by Patrick
J. Buchanan
|Democratic Caucus:
Affirmative Action Task Force
|Prop.
209 camps try to pinpoint the impact of affirmative action
|NEW REPORT ON ASIAN
AMERICANS AND AFFIRMATIVE ACTION
|Samoans and the
Affirmative Action battle in California
|Economics
of
Affirmative Action
|Affirmative
Action Review: Report to the President |