Affirmative Action is a controversial topic today over the
discussion on whether it is necessary or not in today’s society. For
those who do not know, affirmative action is where people of a certain race are
given special treatment to prop them up for positions and acceptance in certain
institutions. But what did Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. think about
affirmative action?
Dr. King Jr.'s thoughts: Apparently Dr. King believed in
affirmative action. He felt it could be used to speed up the process of
social equality in America. And to a certain extent I believe it did as
well. But now it comes to question on if he would support its continued
use in today’s society. So he would probably be of two views in my
opinion, and they are:
1) Dr. King would continue to support
affirmative action, but would begin removing the benefit for certain people
based on level of social equality. At the same time he would probably
suggest revving it up for those who have taken the place of the oppressed in
the United States while the previous oppressed become accepted. And even
then, people will not be as oppressed as time goes on, so the level of
interference by an affirmative action program could be diminished over time.
Hence, true social equality could be gained, but unfortunately through
government force.
2) His other possible opinion would be to
eliminate it seeing as it is now a tool for race baiters who wish to continue
the idea of inequality (or inequality itself) in order to gain power through
hatred and resentment. So once its initial job was done, it would
disappear.
Conclusion: While we can only suspect what Dr.
King might say, I believe he would go with option one as it has the least
chance of being used by race baiters as it will constantly shift from one
oppressed group to another. Dr. King wanted social equality, and as we
have come very very close, there are those who threaten to rip it to shreds.
If Dr. King was still around, the world and social equality in America
may look like a very different place.
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