The United States Commission on Civil Rights
defines affirmative action as: "A contemporary term
that encompasses any measure, beyond simple
termination of a discriminatory practice, that
permits the consideration of race, national origin,
sex or disability, along with any other criteria,
and which is adopted to provide opportunities to a
class of qualifiedction History individuals who have
either historically or actually been denied those
opportunities and /or to prevent the recurrence of
discrimination in the future."
Affirmative Action History
Beginning with the creation of the Committee on
Equal Employment Opportunity and President John F.
Kennedy's Executive Order 10925 to take "affirmative
action to ensure that applicants are treated equally
without regard to race, color, religion, sex or
national origin," to the present-day debate over
race-based admissions policies at the University of
Michigan, affirmative action has had a long and
complex history in the United States. Herewith, a
timeline of affirmative-action policies in this
country.
1961
President John F. Kennedy signs Executive Order (E.O.)
10925, which instructs federal contractors to take
"affirmative action" when it comes to assigning
contracts. The order results in the creation of the
Committee on Equal Employment Opportunity.
1964
The Civil Rights Act of 1964 was signed into law.
This was landmark legislation prohibiting employment
discrimination by large employers (with more than 15
employees), whether or not they have government
contracts. Established the Equal Employment
Opportunity Commission (EEOC).
1965
President Lyndon B. Johnson issued E.O. 11246,
requiring all government contractors and
subcontractors to take affirmative action to expand
job opportunities for minorities. Established Office
of Federal Contract Compliance (OFCC) in the
Department of Labor to administer the order.
1967
President Johnson amended E.O. 11246 to include
affirmative action for women. Federal contractors
now required to make good-faith efforts to expand
employment opportunities for women and minorities.