Every year people from all over the world come to the United States to pursue their dreams. Some people come in as immigrants and work hard to succeed. Others come in as tourists and get an exposure of the American success. The engine that powers the promised American dream is a successful college education and Affirmative Action facilitates this dream for the minorities of this country. In her article, Michele Moses provided a detailed comparison between the education and the socio-economy of five nations. On my writing, I will be focusing on three of them: United States, Brazil, and France. I will also compare and contrasts between the affirmative action in the three cases and the benefits of Affirmative Action and how the Unites States can benefit from it.
What is the Affirmative Action?
Affirmative Action is referred to a program that aims to remedy a past or present discrimination against minority groups (Yale Law & Policy Review. 1997). Moses stated in her writing that Remediation is one of the reasons for Affirmative actions due to racism. Racism can destroy a country and its culture in all aspects of life. As a result, it is very important for any country that seeks happiness of its citizens to accept the Affirmative action in higher education and work place.
Similarities between Brazil, France, and United States Cases
The population in Brazil, France, and United States are all diverse in terms of ethnicity, religion and race. Poverty is more common within their minority groups. The United States is similar with Brazil and France in not providing an equal opportunity for low income students to prepare for colleges in high schools. In France, colleges are more accessible for the high-income students. Therefore, the unemployment rate is higher among the North African immigrants who represent a minority group in France. The tuition costs for colleges and universities in the United States are higher than the ones in Brazil and France.
The differences between Brazil, France, and Unites States Cases
Affirmative Action was more tolerated within the French and Brazilian government than it was in the United States. In 2008, French president Sarcozy, for example, initiated plans to reserve 25 percent of higher education for the under represented students (French President’s promises, 2008). In Brazil, 48 public universities accepted the affirmative action for their minority groups (United Nations Committee on Economic, Social, and Cultural Rights, 2009). However, in the United States many of its states took initiatives to abolish the Affirmative Action (Moses et al., 2009).
The benefits of Affirmative Action for the nation’s development
Affirmative Action will increase diversity within higher education and universities (Moses et al., 2009). To achieve diversity in higher education, United States should be more tolerant to the affirmative action. The absence of diversity initiative negatively impacts the country and creates fights and inequality among the different groups. Affirmative action brings diverse outlooks to higher education characteristics.
Affirmative action in France for example increased the number of North African students in French universities (Moses. 2010). Similarly, the Unites States needs the Affirmative action to increase the integration of the minority groups in the rising of the economy of the country and to reflect the diversity in the American workplace. In addition to that, recruiting multicultural students in the universities will increase the students’ exposure to international culture. It is also important to create diversity within a workplace in higher education. For example, an advisor with the right background language will be able to better assist the students from his ethnicity in every step in their college experience including enrollment, budgets planning, organizing workshops. They also will be able to keep them well informed about all organization activities, meeting times, locations and agenda items. Minority students will feel more comfortable with the university staff when they are aware they are well understood, and this will facilitate the administrators to support the success of diverse students at institutions of higher education to enhance student growth and development.
The graduation rates of colored students at many universities and their successful careers is a positive proof for the effectiveness of Affirmative Actions. Many white students claim that the affirmative action is decreasing the value of meritocracy in the United States but these students have the advantage to receive other types of affirmative action which includes wealth and the ability to attend the private high schools that focus on preparing the students to higher education (KHIN MAI AUNG. 2007). On the interview with Dr. Stella Flores they were discussing a white girl from Texas who claimed that the affirmative action will create an unequaled opportunity among the students to attend higher Education. In my opinion, the equal opportunity should began from the high school where all students should be provided the same preparation for SAT to enter colleges. The African American students who attend public high schools should be equally prepared for the SAT and state exams as their peers in private high schools.
Sources:
(Moses et al., 2009) American Educational Research Association/file:///C:/Users/sabrina/Downloads/Moses%20Moral%20&%20Instrumental%20Rationales.pdf
(KHIN MAI AUNG. 2007). Point/Counterpoint: Affirmative Action Benefits Everyone/http://abcnews.go.com/Politics/story?id=3832928&page=1
(Yale Law & Policy Review. 1997). Remedial Purpose and Affirmative Action: False Limits and Real Harm/http://digitalcommons.law.yale.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1330&context=ylpr
Interview to Dr. Stella / https://www.wnyc.org/story/scotus-reconsiders-affirmative-action.ctio