On June 29, 2023, the US Supreme Court issued its ruling in the case of Students for Fair Admissions, Inc. v. President and Fellows of Harvard College. This 6-2 decision marks a large step back in the advancement of diversity in education. While we are still processing the Supreme Court’s decision to ban affirmative action in the college admissions process and assessing the implications, the National Hispanic Council on Aging expresses its disappointment in the Court’s decision. Affirmative action, while not perfect, has allowed many qualified and deserving students an opportunity to achieve higher education. Some of the beneficiaries of affirmative action include me, and many of our staff and board members.
Under affirmative action, diversity in college enrollment has increased with each decade. Hispanic and Latino student representation has increased significantly in college admissions, reaching just over 20% in 2020. However, the same gains have not been seen in graduate education. When we look at master’s, doctoral, and professional degree recipients by race and ethnicity (pooled 2015-2017), Hispanics/Latinos makeup only 7.4% of master’s degree recipients and 6.2% of doctoral and professional degree recipients. These numbers are low for other historically resilient populations (Black 10.4% and 7.0%; American Indian and Alaska Native .4% and .4%; Native Hawaiian or other Pacific Islander.2% and .2%; respectively). This lack of representation in graduate education highlights the ongoing need to dismantle systemic racism that prevents qualified and capable students of color from accessing higher education. Unfortunately, the Supreme Court has removed an effective tool.
We cannot let the decision to overturn affirmative action result in a loss of the traction we have made in college admissions. We must all continue to do our part. No longer can we rely on the predictability of precedent. We must see this decision as a call to action to mobilize voters. We must take to the polls with the understanding that when we elect leaders, these decisions can have lasting impacts on our future. This is evidenced in the current makeup of our Supreme Court. As citizens, we have the responsibility to hold our decision-makers accountable. We need to demand action, especially when there is a fundamental threat to our rights. If you are not yet registered to vote, you can do so here: https://votolatino.org/article/register-to-vote/.
About NHCOA: NHCOA is the leading national organization working to improve the lives of Hispanic older adults, their families, and their caregivers. Headquartered in Washington, DC, NHCOA has been a strong voice dedicated to promoting, educating, and advocating for research, policy, and practice in the areas of economic security, health, and housing for Hispanic older adults, families, and caregivers for more than 50 years. For more information about NHCOA call 202-347-9733 or visit www.NHCOA.org.
Recent Comments