Affirmative Action Has Helped America

Whether we want to admit it or not, everyone in America has benefitted from Affirmative Action. We know people who have gained a foothold in life from it. Some of us have. But for all the bad publicity and blowback it has gotten, Affirmative Action has done a lot to help this country.

Now there are people who want to get rid of it. Who thinks that this country no longer needs it. If the original goals of Affirmative Action were completely fulfilled, then we could. There is no reason to believe this as there are still those who are being held down and marginalized in this country.

But today we are going to look at how Affirmative Action has helped this country.

The first thing that Affirmative Action did was allow people to gain employment in fields that had been denied them in the past. People who were able to get government and other employment which led to better lives for them and their families. Along with that employment came the benefits and future retirement packages others had received in the past.

 It has also helped people in need of food. If one has ever been hungry, they will know that it is better to have food stamps than to not. For when one is hungry it affects everything in their daily lives. Many children have received help from food stamps and free lunch programs. None wanted to be on them. If a study were done there is a good chance that we would find that most adults who were on them as childern now can afford to buy their own food.

Affirmative Action may have indirectly led to “Brown vs. Board of Education” and the integration of schools being fully implemented. There were schools that were still segregated in the mid 1960’s. Though the busing program started out rocky it led to children who would never have gotten to know each other getting along and becoming friends. And learning that they have more in common than not.

At the next level of education students who otherwise would not have had a chance to enroll at some major colleges and universities were given the opportunity to attend them. They became successful human beings and positive members of society.

The same with those who received help from job programs growing up. Those who had parks and playgrounds opened in their communities which allowed them to play and take part in athletics.

Not to mention how many people Affirmative Action has kept off the streets and out of jail.

These are just a handful of the things that Affirmative Action has done to help America.

So, when we see someone in our lives who is now successful, and a productive member of society, do not be surprised if their success stemmed from Affirmative Action. And if one is a beneficiary of Affirmative Action we should be thankful for what it has done for us while letting others know its benefits.

Who knows? Stressing the positives of Affirmative Action may lead to the day when America no longer needs it.