Introduction
The fairness of the practice of affirmative action, that is, a policy of increasing opportunities for historically disadvantaged groups in education and employment, has been debated for decades. When it comes to race-based affirmative action in particular, it is a popular subject of discussion currently due to what was announced in January by the Supreme Court. It agreed to hear two cases, against Harvard University and the University of North Carolina, both of which were brought by the group named Students for Fair Admissions, SFFA in short (Mukherjee).
According to Mukherjee, SFFA argues that the universities hold Asian-American applicants to higher standards than representatives of other racial groups, discriminating against them and, thus, violating federal law. Zou notes that this case is likely to establish a precedent and ban the decades-long practice of race consideration as a factor in the assessment of college admissions. On the one hand, it might provide more opportunities for those working hard regardless of their race, and on the other, it might deprive underrepresented minorities of the opportunities that can change their life.
Why Race-Based Affirmative Action Is Necessary
Granted, America has made remarkable progress in terms of reaching racial equality; however, systemic and structural racism is still very much a major problem. This is why, advocates for race-based affirmative action argue, the protection of the practice needs to remain: it addresses the asymmetries in the structure of favorable circumstances. Zou points to race continuing to play a decisive role in outcomes even for those belonging to the same class. For instance, white people are reported to have more opportunities for investment and wealth accumulation over generations than Black people, which is crucial for one’s ability to buy their first house. Black middle-class families are also more likely to live in poorer areas than white families of the same affluence. Moreover, Zou states that even when speaking about middle and upper classes, Blacks encounter worse intergenerational mobility than whites. In this way, the argument of those who believe that admission policies are to address economic disparities rather than racial ones is refuted. To this day, race and class are so interconnected that one cannot be considered in context not featuring the other.
In addition to that, affirmative action is reported to benefit people of all races and ethnicities. Zoe cites research, according to which Black and Hispanic students benefit long-term from attending high-level universities, for instance, improve their future earnings (which is, interestingly, not the case for white students with non-low-income backgrounds). In their turn, as per Zoe, White and Asian Americans derive advantages from being students at universities seeking to provide opportunities to underrepresented minorities as well. In such institutions, the likelihood of people socializing with representatives of other races and backgrounds is increased, which promotes the diversity of perspectives.
Why Race-Based Affirmative Action Is Harmful
However, there are some who believe the practice to be harmful and want it to be overturned. Sharma states that there was time when affirmative action was a necessity: during the Civil Rights Movement, legal barriers to Black people getting an education actually existed. Today, however, race-based affirmative action only seems to maximize what Sharma calls a problematic diversity. Educational institutions are in need of one type of diversity for the academic environment to flourish: that of ideas.
A university’s goal is the intellectual development of students, which requires the variety of student viewpoints. When it comes to current race-based affirmative action, Sharma notes, it links ideational diversity to racial diversity, implying that a person’s ideas are closely connected to their race. By reinforcing the belief that race shapes human characteristics, the practice promotes the racist tendencies that it claims to address.
Furthermore, there is evidence suggesting that affirmative action has had serious consequences for some immigrant groups in America. As per Sharma, the proportion of Asian-Americans at high-level universities has remained the same over the last twenty years, while the number of applicants has significantly grown. It means that the work of those who have done enough to be admitted to selective schools is negated. The United States is seen by most immigrants as the ‘land of opportunity’, where success is determined by individual efforts, and affirmative action is the antithesis of that. Sharma understands that college applicants do not have the same access to educational resources, which is why holistic evaluation of some degree is appropriate. However, the best admission candidates should be found without there being assumptions made about them based on race.
Conclusion
In conclusion, race-based affirmative action is one the fairness of which is argued by many. On the one hand, there are advocates for the practice, who deem it necessary today due to it helping people of color improve their socioeconomic position and enhance intergenerational mobility. Moreover, it seems to contribute to a diverse educational environment with a variety of perspectives. On the other hand, there are opponents of affirmative action, who believe that a variety of perspectives being linked to a variety of races only reinforces harmful views of race defining human traits. In addition to that, the practice invalidates the efforts of those who hope to achieve success by working hard but cannot overcome the barriers set by affirmative action policies. The Supreme Court hearings later this year will show whose position appears to be more convincing to the government.
Works Cited
Mukherjee, Renu. “Without a “Diversity” Leg to Stand On.” City Journal, 2022. Web.
Sharma, Arman. “Race-Based Affirmative Action Must be Overturned.” The Stanford Review, 2022. Web.
Zou, Sam. “Why Affirmative Action is Still Needed in College Admission.” The Daily Pennsylvanian, 2022. Web.