Mike Thompson: “Clearly, affirmative action is on the minds of everyone in this country. We cannot let it fall victim to a certain…”

“Clearly, affirmative action is on the minds of everyone in this country. We cannot let it fall victim to a certain radical element in this country that would like to turn back the progress that has been made. Clearly, Mr. Speaker, as we talk about affirmative action, let us be very clear that it was created because a void was in this country as it related to employment, as it related to business, and as it related to minority participation in the broadest spectrum of life. As the gentleman indicated, all of the Presidents since the early sixties have affirmed through Executive order that affirmative action should be the law of the land. This is the greatest country in the world. We cannot fall victim to that radical element that would like to move us back, away from affirmative action. The lack of minorities in the workplace is well documented. If we talk to anyone, as they discuss affirmative action, we all agree that affirmative action has not made the dent that we would like for it to make, but we cannot argue that black people are better off without affirmative action, because they are not.”