Too Smart, Too Rich, and Not Black Enough: Affirmative Action and the U.S. Education System
- Amanda Omoigui
- Feb 25, 2024
- 2 min read
Updated: Feb 26, 2024
An often highlighted solution to ending educational inequality is Affirmative Action. Affirmative Action is the effort to increase diversity in both education and the workplace by boosting opportunities to oppressed minorities. It often targets minorities in race, gender, and sexuality.
Although aspects of affirmative action should be supported to increase minority opportunities, the negative additions of Affirmative Action can easily tug down brighter and more fortunate students.
In July of 2023, the Supreme Court ended the race-based admission process due to the unfair and challenged application processes of both Harvard University and UNC-Chapel Hill.
Supreme Court Justice Ketanji Brown said about ending race-based admission processes, “...deeming race irrelevant in law does not make it so in life.” She had also made an analogy connecting the decision to the “let them eat cake” outlook on life.
Justice Clarence Thomas also quoted in disfavor of Affirmative Action that, “I hold our enduring hope that this country will live up to its principles that...all men are created equal, are equal citizens, and must be treated equally before the law.”
It may appear as though the Supreme Court decision doesn’t affect us today in our day to day life. But even application-only U.S. High Schools are currently being challenged for their race-based processes.
Last Tuesday, the Supreme Court declined a hearing to address the issues that parents had with the nationally top ranked TJHSST’s race based application process. The application process was accused of being racially discriminatory towards Asian students.
Other schools, such as West Point Academy and Boston Latin School, are currently being challenged for their admission processes. This national dilemma of educational and workplace inequity is worrying for the future of U.S. education.
What do you think about Affirmative Action laws? Do you think that Affirmative Action should be restricted or encouraged? At Activating Activists, we believe that the voice of students affected matters most. So share your ideas here.
If you are looking for a free, virtual, and open summer program to hone your writing skills, consider registering for Activating Activists’ summer Young Writers Workshop. This program aims to target students with an interest in bettering writing skills. The power of the pen is the most powerful power of them all. Make sure to register before it’s too late!
Citations
Britannica, The Editors of Encyclopaedia. "affirmative action". Encyclopedia Britannica, 20 Feb. 2024, https://www.britannica.com/topic/affirmative-action. Accessed 25 February 2024.S
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Well spoken article. Glad you included examples that highlight how unfair this is.
Good article! Love the depth and detail! You should do a deep dive though.
Great article! The way you covered the story was unbiased!