Supreme Court Ends Affirmative Action In College Admissions

The Supreme Court’s decision to eliminate race as a factor in college admissions sent shockwaves throughout the nation, triggering a collective outcry at many educational institutions, the White House and liberal supporters of efforts to offset longstanding disparities between Black Americans and whites. The justices 6-3 and 6-2 decisions upended more than 40 years of legal precedent represented in two cases involving Harvard University and the University of North Carolina.

“This is a decision that is systemic-racism blind that denies the existence of racism and refuses to acknowledge the existence,” attorney Mark Rosenbaum. “Race is not the problem. Racism is the problem.’

Rosenbaum joined a panel of attorneys and scholars hosted by Kimberle Crenshaw for the African American Policy Forum’s roundtable discussion about the day’s decision.

President Joe Biden stated that he disagreed with Thursday’s ruling, written by chief Justice John Roberts. Biden urged colleges to continue their efforts to maintain diverse student populations. When asked if the Supreme Court had become a “rouge court,” Biden replied, “This is not a normal court.”

Social media feeds were flooded with reaction to the decision.

The cases were brought by conservative activist Edward Blum, who is white, and alleged that Asian American students at Harvard and the University of North Carolina were being discriminated against. Advocates of affirmative action said Asian Americans were being used to erode civil rights.

The Georgia-based nonprofit Asian American Advocacy Fund said in a press release, “The white supremacist agendas behind these lawsuits use the small number of Asian Americans against affirmative action as pawns in their efforts – weaponizing the model minority myth to divide our communities. Affirmative action policies have played an important role in securing Asian American access to higher education.”

Author and professor Janelle Wong challenged the model minority myth.

Wong said, “They [studies] are showing that those who internalize or endorse that myth are more likely … to challenge race-based admissions.”

She added, “This decision is an assault on education for all.”

Crenshaw explained, “This didn’t happen overnight. This was a 30-year strategy … they [affirmative action opponents] have taken the long view. They have brought colleagues, allies and resources together to strike this blow.”