Question

Section 103 of the Federal Public Works Employment Act establishes the Minority Business Enterprise program and requires that, absent a waiver by the secretary of commerce, 10 percent of all federal grants given by the Economic Development Administration be used to purchase services or supplies from businesses owned and controlled by U.S. citizens belonging to one of six minority groups: African Americans, Spanish speaking, Asian, Native American, Eskimo, and Aleut. White owners of business contend the Act constitutes illegal reverse discrimination. Discuss.

Answer 1

Explanation:

Looking from a fair point of view, the White owners of businesses have legitimate reasons to feel that the Act constitutes illegal reverse discrimination.

Remember, reverse discrimination implies an unfair treatment of the majority group (White owners) in an effort to please the minority group. This is evident from the fact that the 10 percent of all federal grants to be released by the Economic Development Administration was only to be used to purchase services or supplies from businesses owned and controlled by U.S. citizens belonging to one of six minority groups excluding the White business owners; making the White owners feel discriminated against.

Thus, unintentionally the Act became a reverse discrimination on White business owners.