History tells us that the progressive Johnson administration first initiated affirmative action. Regrettably, as it stands right now, affirmative action has effectively been marginalized by previous State Court decisions, as well as an important Supreme Court decision, in addition to the Trump administration’s Executive Order of 2025 -- all of which is quite unfortunate, because the very purpose of affirmative action is to provide a viable pathway for those that have been historically discriminated against, and are still being discriminated against, to get a fair opportunity to achieve the American dream.
While there is something to be said about utilizing a strict merit-based system for admission to colleges and for employment applications, what has to be taken into fair consideration is that America consists of many enclaves of absolute poverty and lack, of which, the school systems in those areas often do a poor job in the education of children, and therefore those subjected to those conditions, are going to often not be as prepared for higher education as demonstrated through their weaker test scores. That indeed is a fact, but what is not taken into account, by those who believe merit should trump everything, is that those who come from disadvantaged circumstances deserve a fair opportunity to prove themselves, and should thereby be accorded a fair handicap to achieve such, for without such aid, those that have historically been the greatest beneficiaries of America largesse, will in many respects, remain the same.
If we desire to see the same winners of the same race and the same class status continue to be the outsized victors of prosperity in America, then we should turn our back on affirmative action, which clearly seems to be the pathway that those in powerful positions have embraced. That, though, is not in harmony with what America represents at its best, and is not in keeping with what America owes to those who were previously enslaved, and have consistently been denied fair access to all the accouterments that the favored race of America takes as its birthright.
There needs to be in this nation a mandated correction for not only past injustices, but also for our consideration that the more representation we have of those who have not had a fair shake, but thereby are seen in positions of influence, prosperity, and success, the more this provides hope for those who desire those very same things. So too, this country must lend a hand to all those who have been provided with nothing much more than a raw deal, and until such time as our primary and secondary schools are equalized in the sense that students of all backgrounds are actually in an educational facility that will educate them, then this nation needs to make up for that lack of foresight, by providing motivated students with potential, a fair pathway structured specifically for them, that will permit them to have equal access to the type of opportunities and success that has been provided to all those fortunate enough to live in enclaves of prosperity, serenity, opportunity and success.
Indeed, until such a time as the harvest of opportunity and success includes all who are part and parcel of this country, we will have neither peace nor justice, because that lack of fair representation breeds discontent, above all.