1. Home
  2. Education
  3. Women's History

Affirmative Action

Affirmative Action: history, theory, ethics.
Affirmative Action Review
A 1995 report guiding the Clinton administration in its approach to affirmative action programs.
Affirmative Action: History and Rationale
From a 1995 government report, a history of affirmative action and the reason it was implemented.
Affirmative Action and Diversity Project
Web site with a variety of articles and resources on discrimination, affirmative action, quotas, merit, rights, race and color blindness, University of California decisions, and pending legislation and court cases.
Affirmative Action Timeline
Timeline from the AUAA goes back to Reconstruction and Jim Crow, 1775-1899, and extends the history to the present.
Affirmative Action Under Attack
1998 Washington Post special report on Affirmative Action. This overview also links to key stories from the Post's archives and other special reports, opinion, and discussion.
Affirmative Action: A Compelling State Interest
Text of an address by Dalmas Taylor, President of the Society for the Psychological Study of Social Issues.
Affirming Affirmative Reaction
Review of the 1998 book by William Bowen and Derek Bok documenting the success of black graduates of highly selective universities which admittedmany of the students under affirmative action programs.
Bakke and Beyond: History and Timeline
Form Infoplease.com, an outline of the history of affirmative action, including key legal decisions. See also the expanded timeline.
The History of Affirmative Action
From Americans for a Fair Chance, a timeline beginning with President John F. Kennedy's Executive Order 10925.
In Defense of Affirmative Action
A collection of articles on affirmative action, including interviews, essays and more.
Job of Ending Discrimination in This Country Is Not Over
Speech on affirmative action by President Bill Clinton, July 19, 1995.
Significance for the Souls of White Folk
1999 article by Anthony R. Pratkanis from the Journal of Social Issues. How does affirmative action "as help" affect White Americans? The author looks at affirmative action as "democratic altruism."
Stephen Cahn on the History of Affirmative Action
A 1995 article outlining the legal and political history of affirmative action.

Explore Women's History

About.com Special Features

A Smarter Future

Tips that will help finance your education, excel in the classroom, and advance your career. More >

How to Ace the GRE

Being well prepared is the first step; here are more essential suggestions. More >

  1. Home
  2. Education
  3. Women's History
  4. Social Reform Movements
  5. Affirmative Action

©2009 About.com, a part of The New York Times Company.

All rights reserved.