The U.S. Supreme Court’s decision to end affirmative action reverses progress made toward racial equity, specifically hurts Black, Brown, and Indigenous students, and will perpetuate and worsen systemic inequalities that are already creating barriers to success for this group of students. This is a racial injustice.
Looking at the states that have already banned affirmative action, the damage is clear: Not only do colleges and universities become more homogenous, but Black, Brown, and Indigenous people access and complete college at lower rates and see lower lifetime earnings. Because, as Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson said in her dissenting opinion, “deeming race irrelevant in law does not make it so in life.”
LAEP works to address systemic barriers to college access and celebrate the richness that diversity brings to all college students. The Supreme Court’s decision is a direct blow to this pursuit and will make direct-service work on the ground – like LAEP’s diapers-to-diplomas programming, which includes college readiness and support – more critical than ever.
LAEP will remain steadfast in our work to transform education to create a world in which every child – especially every Black, Brown, and Indigenous child – thrives.