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Equal Opportunity
May 4, 1999
The History of Race and
Ethnic Relations in the United
States has not been Peaceful
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Irish
Chinese/Japanese
Jews
Native Americans
Hispanics
African Americans
Italians, Poles,
etc.
Real Courage was Involved in
Working on Race/Ethnic
Relations
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American
history has not
been conflict
free
Rule of law
often did not
apply to those
who were
subjects of
discrimination
Choice 1:
People, not government, can
ensure fairness
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PROPONENTS SAY
Our rights are
protected without
affirmative action
We must respect
people as
individuals
It is good business
Americans strongly affirm
the merit principle
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Do you approve or
disapprove of
favoring a minority
applicant who is
less qualified than
a white applicant
when filling a job in
a business that has
few minority
workers (March
1995, Gallup)
Favor
Oppose
13%
87%
Choice 1:
People, not government, can
ensure fairness
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OPPONENTS SAY
Racism and sexism
are still here and
strong
Businesses cannot
be trusted to
diversify on their
own
Business cannot
afford the training
required
Should there be preference in hiring or
promotion today where there has been
discrimination in the past?
60
50
Race Should
40
Race Should
Not
30
20
Women Should
10
0
Poll
1985
Poll
1987
Poll
1995
Women Should
Not
Affirmative Action
Attitudes Vary by Race

80
70
60
50
White
s
40
30
Black
s
20
10
0
More
Less
Do you think that
blacks get more
attention from
government than
they deserve?
(NORC, 1994)
Choice 2:
Level the Playing Field: give
everyone an equal chance

Proponents say:
• Help all the poor,
not just some
• a Fair start is
right, forcing
outcomes is
wrong
• Greatest needs
are in health and
education
Affirmative Action
Attitudes Vary by Gender
70
60
50
40
30
20
10
0
Men
Women
Oppose
Are you in favor of
affirmative action
programs designed
to help women get
better jobs and
education? (LAT,
1995)
Favor

Choice 2:
Level the Playing Field: give
everyone an equal chance
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OPPONENTS
SAY:
• This doesn’t
address
discrimination
• This is a huge
gamble
• We cannot afford
it
Do you think that [Women]/[Blacks] have an
equal chance now to succeed?
70
60
Total
50
Male
40
Female
30
Total
20
Blacks
10
Hispanics
Whites
0
Agree
Disagree
Choice 3:
Finish what we started
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Proponents Say:
• Affirmative
action is working
• We have a long
way to go
• Government
must lead the
way
The federal government should make
special efforts to improve the social and
economic position of minority groups to
correct past discrimination (3/4-7, 1995)
50
40
30
Special Efforts
20
No Special
Efforts
10
0
Poll in 1995
Poll in 1991
NBC/WSJ (April 3-4, 1995) Proposal to
end the use of affirmative action
considerations such as race or gender
Don't Know
Favor
Oppose
Choice 3:
Finish what we started
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Opponents Say:
• It is not fair to
anyone
• It is tearing us
apart
• No one likes it
anyway
Americans Strongly
oppose Quotas
Favor
Oppose
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63
%
37
%
Do you favor or
oppose setting
aside programs
that guarantee a
certain percentage
of government
contracts to
minority owned
firms? NBC (1995)