Affirmative action: The Price of Preference

Shelby Steele begins this essay worrying about the dilemma that he will face with affirmative action once his children apply to college. Steele in his essay clearly demonstrates his position against affirmative action. He gives several examples of way affirmative action far from eliminate racial discrimination, what does is reverse discrimination. He believes that racial preferential treatment for blacks is a kind of demoralization and self doubt that undermines their ability to perform. Also, he thinks that affirmative action in some way gives power and privilege to black people because of their own past victimization. Placing them as a social victim is not the way he believes blacks can achieve what they want by themselves. For me, it is a very interesting essay because although he is black, he gives important facts which demonstrate that victimizing blacks does not repair their past. So, what they really need are equal opportunities for their effort not for being victimized.