Affirmative Action Ruling Consistent with Struggle Against US Racist Past

When the Supreme Court struck down affirmative action programs at the University of North Carolina and Harvard, conservatives celebrated the decision, hailing it as a victory for a “colorblind” interpretation of the Constitution. Former President Donald Trump praised the ruling as a “great day for America.” Democrats, on the other hand, criticized the decision, arguing that affirmative action is essential in addressing historical race discrimination.

Straight Arrow News contributor Robert Doar argues the Left has it wrong and believes the ruling against affirmative action is consistent with America’s ongoing efforts to rectify its discriminatory past.

In the years since the Civil Rights Movement, we witnessed the rise of college admissions policies that put skin color over character and ability. These policies clearly put some citizens before others. Even so, the Supreme Court protected them as recently as 2003. Asian Americans, including the plaintiffs in the Harvard case, were treated most unjustly by these policies. The court found they were discriminated against and overturned affirmative action on the same grounds as the great cases of the Civil Rights Movement.

Now we can add Justice Roberts’ decision, and Justice Thomas‘ concurrence to the canon of great defenses of equal protection, regardless of race. These documents are consistent with the spirit of the Declaration of Independence, the 14th Amendment, Justice Harlan’s dissent, Brown v. Board of Education, the Civil Rights Act and the Voting Rights Act, and Dr. King’s dream. With the Court’s recent decision, we’ve gotten back to our founding principles.