According to the "What Do You Think?" feature box, why do some consider affirmative action a form of reverse discrimination? To what extent does the public approve of affirmative action programs for racial minorities,
and how does this differ depending on the respondent's race? To what extent does the public think that college admissions should be based on enlarging diversity verses merit only? Given public opinion, should the United States continue to use affirmative action? What, if anything, should be done to reduce the racial gap in acceptance of affirmative action programs?
What will be an ideal response?
Answer:
An ideal response will:
1. Indicate that some whites believe affirmative action programs are no longer necessaryâ€"that discrimination of minorities has decreasedâ€"while discrimination against whites has increased.
2. Describe public opinions about affirmative action: more than half of Americans support it. However, there is a large racial gap, with about 76 percent of African Americans supporting affirmative action, and only about 51 percent of whites supporting it.
3. Explain that a majority of Americans (67 percent) believe that college admissions should be based "solely on merit," while less than one-third (28 percent) think that race and ethnic background should influence admissions decisions. Once again, there is a large racial gap. Three-fourths of whites think that admissions should be based solely on merit, while fewer than half (44 percent) of African Americans think merit should be the only factor.
4. Make a case for continuing or discontinuing affirmative action. Those who support this program may point to the fact that a large number of Americans (and an even larger number of minorities) approve of affirmative action. Those who do not support affirmative action may point to large differences in public opinion by race, concluding that such programs are too divisive and diminish the accomplishments of minorities.
5. Make a clear, organized case for whether or not anything should be done to reduce the racial gap in public opinion.
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