The Debate Over an Affirmative Action Strategy

Abstract

Jewish neoconservative and black intellectuals disagree on the on the principle of proportional representation as a strategy to address the problem of discrimination in employment. Jewish neoconservatives argue that proportional representation, in focusing on the group, rather than the individual, denies merit as a valued principle of the American capalist system, which is relates to productivity and efficiency. Equality if oppurtunity, according to the position, requires individual achievment as measure of the most qualified person. Black liberal intelectuals, conversely argue in favor of proportional representation to ensure that a number of qualified blacks will have an equal opportunity to compete with whites, without hindrance of racial exclusionary barriers in place. According to this perspective, the history of American race relations has shown a reluctance for discriminatory practices in employment to change without the involvment of redistributive policies that require federal intervention in the economy.The relations of both groups into the affirmative strategy of proportional representation is the central problem of this study.The intent of this paper is to present an intelligent consideration of racial and historical circunstances that gave rise to two different perspectives on a particular affirmative action strategy.