Systemic racism is a common scapegoat for leftist race movements like Black Lives Matter. Insofar as it does actually exist in the United States, it takes the form of something like Affirmative Action. Affirmative Action was a system-wide rule that some races should receive special treatment over others. Unlike Jim Crow laws, however, it was not targeted at African Americans. Instead, Affirmative Action was systemic racism targeted against White and Asian students seeking college admission.
In June of last year, however, the Supreme Court declared that race-based affirmative action admission policies were unconstitutional. This declaration came about in the Students For Fair Admissions v. President and Fellows of Harvard College case. Unfortunately, the Supreme Court’s ruling did not put a complete stop to Affirmative Action practices, and some schools have brazenly defied the Court’s decision.
Harvard released a statement after the decision which heavily implied that it would circumvent the new prohibition against affirmative action policies. They pointed to a supposed loophole, stating “The Court also ruled that colleges and universities may consider in admissions decisions ‘an applicant’s discussion of how race affected his or her life, be it through discrimination, inspiration, or otherwise.’ We will certainly comply with the Court’s decision.”
Sarah Lawrence College stated that they will now ask students how the affirmative action ruling has personally impacted them. The NAACP called on colleges to pledge to diversity no matter what.
Chief Justice John Roberts wrote in the majority opinion that the race of an applicant can be discussed “so long as that discussion is concretely tied to a quality of character or unique ability that the particular applicant can contribute to the university.” For racial justice to work, it requires that we look at the merits of an individual, rather than just the color of their skin. Leftist-dominated higher learning institutions don’t care and seem to want to pursue base racism no matter what.
