The Irony of Affirmative Action

The Irony of An Integrated Society

When Adam Smith theorized the ‘Invisible Hand,’ which concluded that a Capitalist economy could govern and regulate itself because of economic competition, Smith ironically failed to take race into consideration.  Dr. Martin Luther King once stated, “I have a dream that one day my children will not be judged by the color of their skin, but by the content of their character.” 

Although segregation is no longer legal in the United States, many minorities applying for jobs are still judged by the color of their skin rather than by the content of their character.  This is not merely because of racist attitudes, but also because the entire notion of an Affirmative Action campaign supports the judgment of college and job applicants based on race rather than by their character.  Affirmative action is an attempt on behalf of the United States to create an equal opportunity for citizens of every race.  However, critics continue to question such government policies, which are designed to reverse discrimination, but ironically judge college and job applicants based on race at the same time. 

Though Blacks in the United States are now free of the effects of blatant discrimination that plagued the blacks of the past, minorities today are still at a disadvantage when applying for jobs.  Though discrimination is illegal in the U.S., stereotypes and prejudices will continue to plague the minorities of the U.S.  Therefore, the only way to create an equal opportunity is through Affirmative Action.

            Adam Smith’s theory would only triumph in a dominantly white economy.  Once the United States passed laws to end bigotry and made it illegal to discriminate based on race, a new set of problems was created for the blacks and other minorities of the U.S.  This is why equality cannot exist without an Affirmative Action campaign. 

Though blacks have equal rights under United States laws, Internet Tycoon Cobb has learned quite a bit about being black in a dominantly white computer industry.  He and his partner Levy began are co-owners of an Internet company that first went public in May of 1999.  Though Mr. Cobb, the black man, invented the idea for the company, the two men only became billionaires when they decided to appoint Mr. Levy, the white man, as CEO.  This was the only way for the company to succeed.  The public responded to a white leader rather than a black one.  Mr. Cobb’s experience has taught him that, “black is the identifier that goes before you, always.  It raises the odds that you will get a real reminder that you are an outsider.”  Though Cobb was the more qualified man for the CEO position, it was still granted to Levy for the good of the company.  This is evident in Mr. Levy’s comment, that “It wasn't like, hey, he's the better business person.' It was, 'Hey, he's the white guy.”  Perhaps this attitude in American Society is why the Untied States may never elect a black president.  Although a man of color may be the most qualified candidate, his racial status will inevitably cause him the position of power.  In the end, Americans will choose an under-qualified white man to represent their country rather than an over-qualified man or woman of a different race.

The only true way to establish economic equality in America is by taking race into account.  Ironically, America is making a conscious effort to recognize diversity by granting job and college admissions openings to minorities rather than whites with the same credentials.  Cobb’s white business partner, Levy, thought “being black could be an advantage in business when diversity was increasingly viewed as a plus.”  But in the end, it all boils down to one thing; the only way to fight racial discrimination is through awarding minorities for their race.  After electing its first black mayor, Houston Texas and its economy began to boom. 

The construction industry skyrocketed, and an Affirmative Action initiative was set in place to “ensure minority-owned construction companies that they have a shot at getting a piece of city contracts.”  Mr. Castañeda, the owner of a construction company in Houston, saw the Affirmative Action campaign save his business from ruin.  Though Castañeda did not always support Affirmative Action, he now agrees with many of proponents, that “not all opportunity should be predicated on skin color, Mr. Castañeda said; a person's ability and determination are still the primary ingredients for success… my conscience tells me that affirmative action is a good way to give people opportunities without social upheaval.”  Castañeda now prides himself on working with people of different races.  He feels strongly that “you can't separate yourself and then holler integration.”  Clearly, the benefits of an Affirmative Action Campaign outweigh the risks.  In many ways, minorities could be better off if they were judged by both their race and the content of their character.  The U.S. economy could benefit as well.

An Affirmative Action campaign will create an equal economic opportunity for Americans of every race, therefore judging job applicants based on the quality of their character as well as praising their ethnic diversity.  Rather than attempting to tell the white majority how to think, minorities must strive to embrace the minority status in an effort to raise their status in American Society.  In many ways, minorities could be better off if they were judged by both their race and the content of their character.  Perhaps this is why Billie Joe of the band Green Day sings, “I want to be the minority.”  Clearly, the American Economy cannot afford to judge people solely on their character, nor can the economy afford to judge people solely on their race; success will be the result of an equal analysis of both the character and the ethnicity of a job applicant.  Affirmative Action is an economic advantage for both whites and other minority groups.  This is a call to action.  Embrace diversity and fight discrimination.