Affirmative action, like many issues, has many supporters as well as many individuals who oppose it. Affirmative action as well as workforce diversity have one goal in mind. That goal is equality; Equality without distinction of race, religion, sex or any other difference between people. The key to understanding and appreciating affirmative action is to understand its history and the principles on which it was developed. Additionally, workforce diversity must be embraced and even encouraged. With diversity comes creativity, innovation and lifelong connections that otherwise would never have happened. Affirmative action comes with anti-discrimination, equality, opportunity and success for individuals who might otherwise miss out on their career dreams and endeavors. When working in public administration, it is imperative to understand these issues and why they are important. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on “Why Violent Video Games Should Not Be Banned”? Get an original essay « Affirmative action itself has been defined as “any measure, beyond the mere cessation of a discriminatory practice, adopted to correct or compensate for past violations or current discrimination or to prevent that discrimination will not recur in the future. (U.S. Commission on Civil Rights, Statement on Affirmative Action, October 1977.)” (About Affirmative Action, 2016). Discrimination and anti-discrimination laws date back to just after the Civil War. In 1965, President Johnson vested the authority to ensure equal opportunity, anti-discrimination, and affirmative action with the Secretary of Labor in Executive Order 10925. President Johnson was a strong advocate of affirmative action and made it known publicly that he believed that freedom was not enough if steps were not taken to ensure that those who had not had opportunities in the past now have ample opportunity, even if it meant more opportunities than previously favored candidates (About Affirmative Action, 2016). As noted previously, there are both proponents and opponents of affirmative action as well as workforce diversity. Supporters will likely cite President Kennedy and organizations such as the American Association for Access, Equity and Diversity and the American Civil Liberties Union. Supporters say affirmative action levels the playing field for individuals of all races. Rather than encouraging organizations, government entities, and educational institutions to be fair in their selection among different races, the government establishes safeguards, rules, and tests to ensure that individuals are not discriminated against based on race. Public administration is at the forefront of the country and, as such, must set a precedent for what is accepted and what can be expected. Additionally, public sector jobs must ensure compliance with anti-discrimination policies. Therefore, public administration organizations must implement and adhere to anti-discrimination, workforce diversity and affirmative action. Opponents will likely cite sources that seek to prove that affirmative action further harms the system it is trying to fix. Opponents have several arguments for why they do not support affirmative action. Some of the opponents' arguments are that affirmative action is actually racial discrimination; people of color.