Equal opportunity cannot be just a slogan that philosophizes good deeds, but must become part of the organization's management objectives, both as a legal requirement and as a management cultural value that transcends all levels of the organization. Equal opportunity without an effective process to ensure accountability, compliance, and demonstration of management's good faith desire to achieve equal opportunity for all, becomes only words and slogans. Affirmative action has been the process that has affected change and is leveling the playing field for all to compete. There are many in our society who believe that minorities and women will be treated fair, because the marketplace will dictate it or some other miracle will happen. But I say discrimination is not an individual issue.
Discrimination is a system issue.
When all systems in America are completely free of bias and discrimination, then the concept and the legal prescription for equal opportunity will prevail without the need for affirmative action. Unfortunately, that day is not here. When I was young, I worked on a farm. Every fall after the harvest, we would prepare the field for planting the next spring. Most of the preparation consisted of plowing and leveling the field.