ty and inclusiveness. Others might see it as a quota-based system for different minority groups. Is affirmative action fair? Are minority groups on equal footing? Is gaining employment for minorities difficult? Is education easily obtained for the minority groups of people? Affirmative action pretends to answer all these questions, while allowing society to believe harmony exists. AA has provided many opportunities for minorities in America. It has taken thirty years to finally show minorities in greater numbers getting accepted to more colleges, and having more job opportunities and less limitations. But I also feel that it is lacking in some aspects. In a way it has had an impact of some reverse discrimination among all Americans; the problem still exists as an ongoing battle. It forces colleges and business to adhere to quotas, still discriminating against the best-qualified individual- whoever they may be. I think there may be a better way to obtain equality for all people in America. And that is why I choose to remain neutral in this discrepancy (Ladies.35) It is difficult for me to choose a definite side. Because of affirmative action being present, the government has introduced quotas and criteria in considering job applicants and on college applications. In a sense, that lowers the standards for all the other qualified non-minorities who apply. However, without affirmative action, I feel that by some subliminal discrimination, the number of minorities may significantly decline. This is because all people are guilty of some form of discrimination- whether we realize it or not. Twenty years ago, women could not have held some of the jobs or had the opportunities available for us today. But a woman will still receive lower wages to a man holding her same job (Ladies 36). This is encouraging to me, yet discouraging at the same time. Racial differences are also an issue. From my own personal past experience, I had a friend that worked for a man who owned a restaurant. By no fault of her own, she could not get to work on time one day. When she called to let her boss know the situation as to why she would be a little late, the man told her not to bother coming at all. I can't help but feel that because she was black, she was discriminated against. However, my friend may have been fired for other reasons as well. It is one thing to deny someone the right to a job because of their physical or mental disability; some individuals simply cannot do the work that is offered. But when there are no prominent disabilities, one does wonder why people act the way they do toward anyone whose appearance looks different. Since being introduced to the college life, I’ve become more accustomed to the diversity, especially in UB. Growing up in Puerto Rico, racism was not something I was brought up to seriously thinking about; I was not told or brought up to have preconceived notions about anyone who was different. But viewing a vandalized bulletin board, (when I moved to USA) filled with racist comments made the issue more of a reality for me, not just something I'd read about in textbooks and newspapers. Now looking back, I can see how I may have been subjected to sexism in a slight way, even in my own country. Affirmative action was never designed to relieve poverty; however, the opportunity for professional advancement undeniably provides a better life style for minorities and women. Despite the positive results of 30 years of affirmative action, it is still under attack by whites and even by blacks and other minorities--those who would benefit the most from it, wants to abolish it. It might need some tweaking or transformation, but abolishment is not the answer. Some have suggested the program should shift to a class-based program, but classes and race are already engraved in this society--I don't think we can separate that. Though we would all like to think that America no longer needs affirmative action; there are at least three reason

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