Unpacking Affirmative Action in Higher Education Admissions

…a legacy of promoting equality, addressing historical disadvantages based on race/ethnic identity, and making conservatives really upset.

By Emely Oviedo and Dr. Benjamin M. Drury

Affirmative action has long been a topic of debate since inception in the 1960s. Conversations about fairness, equal opportunity, and the legacy of discrimination permeate the history of this important decision. Evolving from the fervor of the Civil Rights Movement, affirmative action seeks to redress the historical imbalances endured by marginalized groups and instigate diversity in education and the workforce. Affirmative action policies aim to address historical disadvantages faced by marginalized groups and promote diversity in educational institutions and the workplace. What we have effectively seen in the last week of Supreme Court decisions is that it is impossible to legislate love…and it is even more difficult to get any sort of legislative footing on love because it will be ruled unconstitutional. In many ways, yes, affirmative action is unconstitutional. Keep in mind, no Black or Latino or Asian or Indigenous or other racial or ethnic background was represented in the room other than white European descent — probably a few homosexuals…