Structural racism and the limitations of affirmative action in America

¶ … electing the first black president of the United States three years ago, racism continues to be a prevalent nuisance in America. Still, a vast amount of progress has taken place concerning racism in America. Slavery and the Jim Crowe laws were abolished and balance-minded programs such as Affirmative Action (though controversial) have been implemented (Bonilla-Silva, 2009). However, a large degree of racism continues to be present in the United States as the push for equality has remained nearly stagnant for decades.

Racism is an extremely difficult problem to eradicate for several reasons. For one, it has been a part of America since its beginning causing structural discrimination to occur. When the puritans (pilgrims) came to America they were attempting to escape religious persecution and achieve freedom to live how they wanted (Bonilla-Silva, 20009). The puritans were invested in their beliefs and ways of life. Therefore, because the founding pilgrims were white protestant people, they believed all people should be this way in their new country. If a person did not impress or display accurately what the pilgrims wanted, they were cast out and considered heathens, witches, etc. (Bonilla-Silva, 2009). This feeling of resentment towards difference was illustrated by early settlers hostile take over of the Native American's homeland. Thus, racism began in America and became in integral part of the early settlers lives. Because the Native Americans were caught by surprise regarding the puritan's take over, they were easily conquered and left to feel less adequate than their white counterparts leading to racial tension that still exists among these ethnicities today (Bonilla-Silva, 2009).

Another of the reason racial inequalities still exist in the United States is due to programs that have become obsolete or have altered so much over the years that they are no longer beneficial (Berry, Bonilla-Silva, 2008). For example, Affirmative action. The intent of affirmative action is great. It was created with the purpose for employers to disregard "color, religion, sex, or national origin" when hiring employees in order to balance the job market and give minorities much needed jobs (Berry, Bonilla-Silva, 2008). An increasing amount of amendments made to affirmative action nationally and statewide however have altered the policy greatly. In its struggle to make life in America fair for all races, religions, and genders, affirmative action has become unfair to those who do not belong to a minority (Berry, Bonilla-Silva, 2008). Affirmative action affects education among other things, and many white people feel it is unjust to meet "racial quotas" at universities instead of basing admittance purely on test scores. For true equality to exist, people should be accepted to school or hired at a job because they best fit the needs and requirements of the institution or workplace. Not because a quota is not being met.