Exploring American Histories: Printed Page 893
Interpret the Evidence
Why do supporters of affirmative action (Documents 27.5 and 27.9) reject the belief that affirmative action creates a stigma of inferiority in those who receive its benefits?
Documents 27.7, 27.9, and 27.10 give powerful arguments for and against affirmative action. Compare their characterizations of affirmative action and the language they use to describe it.
How do the different documents view quotas? Why are quotas such a touchstone for the affirmative action controversy? What are the differences between quotas and guidelines?
Why does Supreme Court justice Lewis Powell think that diversity is a permissible goal for affirmative action (Document 27.8)? Do you think that taking diversity into account is more justifiable than considering remedies based strictly on race and sex? Why or why not?
Put It in Context
Based on what you have read in the chapter and in these documents, how might affirmative action have influenced the lives of your parents and grandparents?