The End of Affirmative Action Would Be a Disaster
Preview:
In 1961, at the height of the civil-rights era, President John F. Kennedy signed an executive order designed to improve access to opportunity for Black Americans. Government contractors were compelled to “take affirmative action to ensure that applicants are employed, and employees are treated during employment, without regard to their race, creed, color, or national origin.” Six decades on, Americans remain divided over affirmative action. Some believe we do not have enough of it; others believe we have too much of it. And now the debate is about to get even more contentious.
Originally published: October 31, 2022
Author: Lee C. Bollinger
Position: President
Institution: Columbia University
Published by: The Atlantic