Affirmative Action

Oh boy! The Supreme Court has agreed to revisit this polarizing subject in the fall. The last time the high court looked at the issue was in 2003 and they decided race can be used as one of the factors in admissions for the purpose of achieving diversity but cautioned against quotas. The case has been brought by a white student at the University of Texas who claims she did not get admitted because she was white.
So many thoughts come to mind I am not sure where to start! How about with Clarence Thomas and others that must realize they have achieved part of their success due to affirmative action but would now turn their backs on others behind them. I personally can not help thinking of my experience in high school when I was told by other students I got into UVA because I was black. I was then told the same thing in college when I got into medical school. No I did not have the highest scores either time and there may have been white students who did have higher scores that did not get into my schools but did I think it was unfair? Initially I did.
Until I attended an affirmative action rally in college and minored in Sociology taking such classes as Sociology of Inequality. At the rally they mentioned a running race. That minorities often do not have all the exposure and background of other students that may put them at the starting line up. But it doesn't mean they are not as smart or as driven. They just need a shot, a chance to get to the line and prove themselves in order to make it to the finish line. And most do. Getting into a school with any help from affirmative action means nothing if you are not capable of performing against the top students across the nation. UVA for instance is known for graduating one of the highest number of black students within a 4 year period. So we do quite well. I was personally grateful for this opportunity since as a daughter of Jamaican immigrants who knew nothing about how to get into college, being 1 of 3 nonwhite students in my class and having all white teachers and guidance counselors who told me not to apply to such high ranking schools, having low self esteem and feeling like I did not belong, I worked very hard through it all on my mission to become a doctor.
In Sociology of Inequality we read books about public education by Jonathan Kozol. Specifically I remember reading about schools in urban and low income areas. Schools that had no computers, not enough books, teachers that were overwhelmed, lack of guidance counselors, classrooms that were old with structures that were falling apart. Even the most naturally gifted students would have difficulty learning and excelling in this environment. There was also the lack of guidance from parents that had no idea how to help with homework or push their children down the path of higher education including studying for SATs or filling out college applications. Does this mean that these students should be doomed to stay in their neighborhoods or should they be given an opportunity to attend top schools and later a better life based on essays or interviews and potential seen by an admissions committee? My interviewer for medical school told me that. I had the national average MCAT scores but my science GPA was below it. But she told me she saw potential in me and felt I would be a fine doctor. I still think of Dr.Champ and I am grateful.
In terms of schools using affirmative action as a way to preserve diversity at their schools, it has been argued that students learn best at schools with diversity. I do believe that everyone should know how to work and play alongside people of all races and cultures. It breeds competition and tolerance which are both great things.
In 2007 the high court voted to strike down affirmative action in public high schools and a few justices made the statement "The way to stop discrimination on the basis of race is to stop discriminating on the basis of race". But disregarding all of my reasons above why I think we still need some type of affirmative action is prejudice. As long as there are prejudices in this country we have to have ways to level the playing field and make sure things are as fair as possible. Because studies have shown that whether it is for jobs or admissions, people are more like to say yes to someone who looks or reminds them of themselves. (this also goes back to the current voting pattern in the republican primaries for Santorum). So all things being equal, a women will be more likely to hire or accept a woman, an Asian person may unconsciously pick another Asian and so on. So since the vast majority of people in power in America are white, there is no guarantee that without these programs we will see any diversity on campuses but what we will see are fewer opportunities given to minorities. For example, I am not in the business sector but from what I was told there are quotas that make sure certain government contracts are given to minorities and small businesses.
 And what about legacies? At top schools where preference is given to children and grandchildren of alumni, is this not discrimination as well?
In the end, unless you can prove to me there are no prejudices or discrimination in America, I hope the supreme court allows affirmative action in some capacity as it currently stands.
Thoughts?