Affirmative Action Research Paper

BACKGROUND

Affirmative action, originally voluntary, is now a legislated system often requiring employers to hire a certain percentage of their workers from minority groups. The intent of the law is to make up for past discrimination while protecting minorities from bias in the workplace. Opponents call affirmative action reverse discrimination in its treatment of white males.

BROWSE FOR BOOKS ON THE SHELF USING THESE CALL NUMBERS

342.73–342.7308

331.133–331.3

LOOK UNDER THE FOLLOWING SUBJECTS IN THE CATALOG (CARD OR COMPUTER)

Affirmative action programs—United States

Minorities—Employment—United States

Discrimination in employment—Law and legislation—United States

Discrimination in employment—United States

REFERENCE MATERIALS THAT MAY HELP (BOOKS OR CD-ROMS)

Berry, Stephen L., et al. Employment Law Handbook: A Complete Reference for Business, 1993.

CQ Researcher, April 28, 1995.

Magill, Frank N., ed. Great Events from History II: Human Rights Series, 1992.

Patrick, John J. The Young Oxford Companion to the Supreme Court of the United States, 1994.

PERIODICAL INDEXES TO SEARCH (BOOKS OR CD-ROMS)

EBSCO Magazine Article Summaries

InfoTrac

NewsBank and other newspaper indexes

Readers’ Guide to Periodical Literature

SIRS (Social Issues Resources Series)

WILSONDISC

ONLINE DATABASES TO SEARCH

America Online

CompuServe

Dialog Internet

Prodigy

KEY WORDS AND DESCRIPTORS FOR PERIODICAL INDEX AND ONLINE SEARCHES

Affirmative action

Affirmative action programs

Minorities—employment

Blacks—employment

Racial quotas

Reverse discrimination in employment

Equal Employment Opportunities Commission (EEOC)

Minority business

Discrimination in employment

VIDEOTAPE ON THIS TOPIC

The Constitution: That Delicate Balance, Vol. 12. Films, Inc., 1984.

NATIONAL ORGANIZATIONS TO CONTACT FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

American Association for Affirmative Action, 11 E. Hubbard St., Ste. 200, Chicago, IL 60611.

Institute for Justice, 1001 Pennsylvania Ave., N.W., Washington, DC 20004.

NAACP Legal Defense and Education Fund, 1275 K St., N.W., Ste. 301, Washington, DC 20006.

SUGGESTIONS FOR NARROWING THIS TOPIC

Analyze the constitutionality of affirmative action programs.

Discuss the impact of affirmative action on the college admissions process.

Discuss the moral and ethical aspects of affirmative action.

Investigate the status of federally sponsored affirmative action programs.

Present the case for (or against) affirmative action.

SUGGESTIONS FOR RELATED TOPICS

Alternatives to affirmative action

Civil rights movement

Glass ceiling

Reverse discrimination

This RESEARCH TOPIC GUIDE is intended to help the library user find information and materials on a particular topic in many sources throughout the library. Resources on this topic are not limited to those described and availability will depend upon the individual library. Feel free to ask a librarian for assistance.