The Supreme Court recently heard arguments from Harvard and the University of North Carolina about using race and ethnicity in admissions policies. At stake is the fate of affirmative action and the positive effects that race-conscious policies have had on higher education and the workplace for more than 50 years.
Most of us agree that no matter our gender, race or ethnicity, we all deserve a fair shot in life. But for historical and current reasons, far too many Americans are denied this chance simply because of the color of their skin.
Most African American, Latinx and Indigenous Americans attended segregated public schools for generations. Many were formally barred from higher education altogether. Even today, students of color are much likelier to attend underfunded schools. And standardized testing scores, widely used to determine college admissions, run significantly lower for students who face these obstacles.
