As the courts and legislatures cleared the books of laws that legalized racial discrimination, affirmative action developed in the 1970s as a new tactic. What was its purpose?

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Affirmative action was developed as a way to address discriminatory hiring practices and provide a remedy for minorities who had been disadvantaged in the past. It allowed for preference to be given to qualified minority candidates in certain circumstances, such as when there is a history of discrimination in a particular industry or when the workforce is not representative of the general population. The purpose was not to make it more difficult to hire or promote white employees, as described in option E. Option A describes a color-blind approach, which is not the purpose of affirmative action, which is designed to address previous discrimination. Option B is not accurate, as employment decisions are still made by individual employers, not just by federal agencies. Option C is not accurate, as affirmative action was not intended to encourage lawsuits, but rather to address past discrimination.

As the Courts and Legislatures Cleared the Books of Laws