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Maheema Chowdhury

Mrs.Walker

English 2H, Period 5

9 March 2018

A Gift of Opportunity To Minority Students: Affirmative Action

In an American society where the gap between majority and minority groups continues to

widen, it is difficult to maintain an equal playing field for individuals who wish to pursue the

path to prosperity, no matter the extent of their social power. Many important factors determine

one’s level of power in society, but most notably is the racial profile they carry. Because the

United States has undergone a tumultuous history of prejudice towards people of color, its

impact is evident in modern society to the point where a stark difference in power is apparent

between people who are Caucasian and people who are not. This statistic noticeably prevails

today in a number of colleges, where institutions across the nation carry different standards of

admission for certain minority races. The persistent division between majority and minority

backgrounds disregards the notion of a society focused upon fair chance and instead, enforces

the term “the rich get richer and the poor get poorer”. In such a case, college selection influenced

by affirmative action is necessary to expand the amount of opportunities available to minority

students.

Through the use of affirmative action, colleges are able to offer minority students the

opportunity needed to advance towards financial success. Not only does this provide individuals

an equal playing field, but it also allows them to fulfill their maximum potential through

resources they would not otherwise be able to obtain on their own. One may argue one’s

admission to a particular college should not be based on pity towards one’s lack of privilege, but
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instead should focus on their academic success in grade school. While one’s level of

sophistication in knowledge and development is an important factor in the admission process, not

everyone has equal access to high-quality education systems. Frum argues, “Elementary schools

and secondary schools with large members of black and Hispanic students are less likely to have

experienced teachers, advanced courses, high-quality instructional materials, and adequate

facilities” (Source B). In many cases, those with minority backgrounds are, in fact, just as

capable in attaining high levels of scholastic achievement as those with majority backgrounds.

Because minority students are not as likely to receive the full educational support they need, they

are not able to learn as efficiently. Harriot agrees, “White kids are also more likely to have

parents who went to college who know exactly how to prepare their children for academic

success” (Source C). The advantages different social stratas carry is strongly prevalent in

American society and should be addressed through offering extended paths to success to those

whose status act as a barricade towards therm.

Not only does affirmative action enable colleges to expand the amount of opportunities

available to minority students, but it also provides all students the benefits of a diverse

environment. In many top American colleges, much of the student population is composed of

Caucasians and contain little to no black or Hispanic representation (Source A). The absence of a

multi-ethnic campus prevents students from being exposed to a larger range of viewpoints and

beliefs as well as the desire to safely challenge their own preconceived mindsets. Most notably, a

diverse campus prepares students to operate comfortably and effectively in the real world when

dealing with people of different ethnic origins. Again, one may argue that college selection based

on affirmative action goes against a color neutral society. However, with hundreds of

nationalities representing the ethnic makeup of the United States, there is no such thing of that
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nature to exist in the first place. The United States is notorious for being home to millions of

varied races, religions, and cultures therefore, it is not possible to identify as ‘one’. The issue

behind color neutrality is that the United States’ diverse population serves as one of its strongest

contributors towards a strong economy; generations must continue to enforce a diverse

community so they can rise together instead of dominate one another.

In many ways, affirmative action proves justice for minority students who wish to partake

in higher-quality education but cannot due to their placement on the social spectrum. Although

some argue lack of privileges should not influences one’s admission to college, minority

individuals already have very limited access to opportunities that can guarantee success. By

taking upon an equal opportunity method, both minority and majority groups will have a

balanced playing field in achieving their goals without the interference of their racial profile. In

addition to this, affirmative action promises students the experience of a diverse environment

within their campus to promote cross-pollination of ideas, sharing of beliefs, and preparation for

the multi-ethnic world. In conclusion, the primal motive behind the promotion of affirmative

action is to ensure that enough members of our society have the level of education we need to

allow America to prosper and be competitive on the world stage.