Affirmative Action Initiatives in Education and Employment: Its Necessity Then, Now and in the Future

Since its creation, affirmative action (AA) has been one of the most debated political issues in the United States and other nations such as South Africa. AA programs are, at times, seen as a tool of compensation for past discrimination toward women and particularly racial minorities. Many experts view it as an economic necessity since diverse employees can better forecast the needs of different communities. Nonetheless, some believe that AA is an obsolete and outdated practice that can lead to illegal discrimination based on race and gender. As such, it is useful to look at the rationale or purpose of AA and its impact on educational institutions and in the workplace in the U.S. and in South Africa—where its success has been celebrated—over the past four decades. AA must be about accessibility and equal access for all candidates in employment and educational opportunities, without any adverse impact on anyone, for it to be sustainable.