Should we eliminate Affirmative Action?

Although it was interesting to argue for the opposite side, I believe that Affirmative Action should not be eliminated because, unfortunately, it is necessary. I say "unfortunately" because it is just the truth that the majority of U.S. history has been comprised of racial discrimination, and as a result, this has created racial disparities that are still evident today. This inequality is, of course, reflected in our jobs and schools, where white privilege prevails. Consequently, minorities already have a disadvantage because of how the history of this country affects them, which is completely unfair. Considering this, we cannot move forward and begin to fix this problem without acknowledging that it exists, and acknowledging race. That is why Affirmative Action is important and should not be eliminated. Since Whites already have certain inherent advantages, it is only fair to level the playing field in this way, by giving minorities an extra push so that they are not unjustly hindered by the history of oppression in the U.S. As for the question of whether Affirmative Action should help those who were not directly oppressed in the past, I think that it doesn't necessarily matter if you were personally subjugated, because the unfortunate truth is that in this country, there is still a legacy of oppression that affects minorities and non-Whites. If the world were perfect, Affirmative Action would not be necessary, but our world is far from perfect and, thus, we need it. I'm not saying that Affirmative Action will solve this problem of inequality--I know that it will not--however, it is a step in the right direction for leveling the playing field.