Affirmative action, an idea begun in the 1930s but truly underway in the 1960s, consists of a wide variety of programs intended to help level the playing field of play in both colleges and the workplace by considering race and gender in the selection process. While supporters believe that affirmative action must remain an active policy for the United States to continue to strive for proportional equality in jobs and higher education, opponents argue that positions should be assigned on a individual based exclusively on merit. Although affirmative action policies have done an impressive job creating these opportunities, it is now time to ask whether, after 40 years, this method works and should be continued, whether current policies are no longer effective and the negative costs now outweigh the possible benefits. and a new approach should be put in place. Affirmative action is a label for a wide range of programs, but all of these methods began for one reason: as a way to combat racism. Voluntary efforts and mandatory laws have been enacted to accomplish this feat (Wu par 6). It was begun under President Johnson with the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and was followed by his Executive Order 11246, both of which emphasized fair treatment and employment of minorities. Two years later, women were added to the list. Today, affirmative action benefits women, racial and ethnic groups, and the physically, mentally, or emotionally disabled at the expense of white males (“affirmative action” par 1). Thanks to affirmative action efforts, doors have been opened that allow for equality of opportunity in the United States, seen in the type of people who work in places like police and fire departments, as... middle of paper.. . ....05 September 2009. .Sitkoff, Harvard. “Affirmative action.” Postwar America: A Student Companion. np, Oxford University Press. 2000. n.pag. eLibrary. ProQuest LLC. HAYFIELD SECONDARY SCHOOL. 05 September 2009. .Wolfe, Alan. “Most Americans want to revisit affirmative action.” Opposing Views: Interracial America. Ed. Mary E. Williams. San Diego: Greenhaven Press, 2001. Opposing Viewpoints Resource Center. Storm. HAYFIELD SECONDARY SCHOOL. September 5, 2009 .Wu, Frank H. “New Thinking on Affirmative Action.” Human rights. 01 July 1999. 19. eLibrary. ProQuest LLC. HAYFIELD SECONDARY SCHOOL. 05 September 2009. .