Basis and Origin of Affirmative Action

ORIGINS OF AFFIRMATIVE ACTION
Originating from the civil rights movement three decades ago, affirmative action
calls for minorities and women to be given special consideration in employment, education and contracting decisions. Affirmative action is a growing argument among our society and is a multifaceted topic very vaguely defined. Some can characterize affirmative action as the ability to strive for equality and inclusiveness. Others see it as a quota-based system for different minority groups. However, defined by the Commerce-Database, affirmative action is a "a system designed to remedy past discrimination and eliminate current and future discrimination" (Commerce Database 1) "Affirmative action was originally designed to help minorities" (Gross, 1996).
The path affirmative action took before it was finally accepted is a long and tiresome one, beginning in the years the following the Civil War. Once America entered into peace time, Congress passed a number of law...