How can equality and affirmative action co-exist?

How is it that the fundamentals of equality and civil rights be used as a tool for establishing affirmative action in schools and places of employment? Isn't this a contradiction of the very point? What I mean is, if we are to end racism, then why implement racism in your means of trying to rid us of it. If an employer is forced to take race into consideration, before making a decision to hire or not, that decision is racist. Whether it mean a white or a black person have the benefit of the mandate. Can this be explained, and if so, how?

The problem lies not in the solution to equality, because equality is not a desirable outcome of government policy.

The carrot we should chase is liberty, not equality.

XXXXXXX, my father was born in 1943, into a family of seven, in rural MD. He didn't attend Harvard, and he didn't graduate from high school, because he had to start working. I am the first member of my family EVER to graduate from college, so don't give me that crap about privilege.

Affirmative Action is the necessary boost to encourage change. We should continuously monitor it for the desired effect, make adjustments as needed and pray that our caramel-skinned grandchildren one day wonder what these laws are for. Report It

I can't agree more. I think affirmative action says, "you aren't better so we have to help you."

While the idea is that affirmative action negates the bigotry that African-Americans experience via racism..

The actual answer is: They can't.

They cannot. Affirmative action is racism. Specifically it is making hiring decisions based on race, which is specifically prohibited by the equal opportunity Act. It is an oxymoron and should be dismantled.

Affirmative Action is discrimination. It's goal is to destroy Equality.
It is a hoax to get votes and money.

this is such a classic.
In a perfect world, race would not be a basis for hiring...but when it was no white people were crying about it.
A person only needs to go to a union hall to see that defacto racisim still exists....

Ideally affirmative action will end but I do not believe it is time as of yet.

please (re?) read your history books
there is an act called the civil rights act of 1964....
1964!
prior to then, black people could not even sit in a classroom with a white person!
In the scheme of things, this was NOT that long ago...meaning, my parents were alive when this mandate took place.
as such, while your parents were enjoying the fruits of attending Harvard my parents were able to clean the floors.
Please believe me when I tell you that this was not because of any inferior mental status, this was because it was the LAW
if you think that this is not a detriment to the sucesses he could have had then please read no futher.

So my dad and your dad are equal intelligence wise, yet my dad is denied the access that your dad took for granted....
this WILL affect the kinds of employment that he will get. A Harvard degree will assure your dad gets a great job, my dad's HBC will assure him an average one.
SO
your dad makes $100k based on his degree, my dad makes 50k based on his
so YOU go to better schools
me not so good as the quality education in the local school district is based on economics (the best teachers are employed at the best districts)
This my friend is the ugly face of racisim that you (as a white person) dont see
So I am all for affirmative action
but of course not many white people are...since they are afraid...none will admit to the fear so they cry about it being unfair....
the fear is that if since 1964 black people have overcome this much, in 2064, they will surpass all the people who were barely making it by just being white.
Not too concerned about the thumbs down because most of the people reading this will already have a mind that is made up on one side of the issue or the other. My hope is just to give you a bit of insight from the other side

You are right

Anybody who supports affirmative action, in any form, is as a racist as any KKK member. In fact, the essence of affirmative action reads exactly like KKK propaganda.

"They're inferior. They can't succeed on their own."

Any one who supports this is just as racist as the KKK???? WTF
so you mean that there is NO difference between burning a cross in someones yard and hiring someone for a job?
wow
it never ceases to amaze me how the most affected are the most polarizing (scared)
NO ONE with have a brain could think that the supporters of affirmative action are on par with the KLAN
p.s. affirmative action helps more WOMEN than it does minorities!
I love it how the good ole boys get scared that the rein of terror is coming to an end!