Getting Rid of Affirmation Action is Not the End of the World

By Thomas Holt Russell

Everybody has asked the question, and they learned to ask it early of the abolitionist

‘What shall we do with the negro?’ I have had but one answer from the beginning. Do nothing with us! You’re doing with us has already played the mischief with us. Do nothing with us! If the apples will not remain on a tree of their own strength, if they are worm-eaten at the core, if they are early ripe and disposed to fall, let them fall! I am not for trying to fastening them on the tree in any way except by nature’s plan and if they will not stay there let them fall.

And if the Negro cannot stand on his own legs let him fall also. All I ask is, give him a chance to stand on his own legs! Let him alone! If you see him on his way to school, let him alone, don’t disturb him! If you see him going to dinner the table at a hotel, let him go! If you see him going to the ballot-box, let him alone, don’t disturb him! If you see him going into a workshop, just let him alone - your interference is doing him a positive injury.

Frederick Douglass Massachusetts Anti-Slavery Society

April 1866

If Frederick Douglass were alive today, he might have a hard time convincing the African American community that the Supreme Court’s decision to curtail affirmative action for college admittance is good for them in the long run.

While we are still collectively trying to figure out where the country is headed after the Court’s decisions on abortion and affirmative action, there seems to be a march towards policies that, on the surface at least, indicate that we are going backward. In the short run, removing affirmative action may seem to be a positive stepin the wrong direction. However, some think that eliminating affirmative action policies will force African Americans to develop habits they presently lack, such as financial security.

It seems that both sides overrate this whole affirmative action thing. Maybe I have been hanging out with the wrong crowd (a very good possibility), but I don’t think I can name three people I know who benefited from affirmative action. I can’t name any; l just thought three sounded good. If I listen to the right-wing folks, they have lost thousands of jobs to unqualified people of color and the world is falling apart because of this. If I listen to the left wing, affirmative action is a birthright; it is the thing that keeps African Americans’ heads above the shifting currents of racism, poverty and all its children, drugs, violence, poor education and ill health.

Affirmative action is (was) a real thing. But no large swaths of unemployed white people have been kicked out of the race for the American Dream. That population does not exist. Affirmative action has not made a positive dent in the numbers that really count: the poverty level of African Americans. Many have benefitted from affirmative action programs, and colleges have enforced policies and quotas that helped people of color, but affirmative action for jobs has yet to do what some claim. Blacks are at the bottom of every significant financial and educational statistic.

What is the big deal about the supreme court decision?

Like many social programs, affirmative action was primarily designed to treat the illness’s symptoms instead of the cause. If we never address the root cause of our poverty, we will forever put band aids on wounds gushing blood instead of addressing the real problem.

Many people, such as the late Walter E. Williams, say African Americans suffer from two types of poverty: financial and spiritual. By spiritual poverty, he means that African Americans lack the moral values usually required of successful people. He calls these pathological lifestyles, including alcohol addiction, crime, violence, incarceration, illegitimacy, dependency and erosion of work ethic. Whew!

While the Supreme Court decision against affirmative action in college admissions has made the headlines, it’s important to look beyond the headlines and consider its ramifications from a broader perspective. The potential effects of this decision aren’t just confined to the African American community; they will likely reverberate across the nation, affecting various demographic groups and communities.

When evaluating the impact of this decision, it’s worth considering individual states’ responses. California and Washington had already banned affirmative action in college admissions years before the Supreme Court ruling. These states may offer us a preview of what could happen nationally.

In California, after the ban on affirmative action (Proposition 209) was implemented in 1996, the percentage of underrepresented minority students enrolled in the University of California system schools fell sharply. However, this trend has been reversed over the years through the university’s increased efforts to boost college readiness among these populations. It remains a contentious issue, with efforts to repeal Proposition 209 narrowly failing in the November 2020 elections.

All of this doesn’t mean the end of the fight for racial and economic equity. It only underscores the importance of addressing systemic issues such as poverty, educational disparities and the lack of social mobility head-on rather than relying on piecemeal solutions. It is a reminder that the path toward equality and justice often isn’t straightforward but requires continuous commitment, creativity and resilience from all segments of society.

As we consider the future of affirmative action, we must strive for a society where everyone, regardless of race or socioeconomic background, has a fair shot at success. The Supreme Court decision isn’t the end, it’s just the beginning of a new chapter in this ongoing struggle..

Affirmative Action

Continued from page 3 higher education and, potentially, the corporate world.

As we move forward in this altered landscape, it’s vital to remember why affirmative action was needed in the first place. Its absence is akin to demanding escape from a sinking ship while actively dismantling the lifeboats. Affirmative action served as a countermeasure to socio-economic disadvantages, providing access to high-quality education to those who, due to historical and systematic inequalities, might otherwise struggle to attain it.

If this decision marks the end of affirmative action, it’s critical to consider alternate solutions. The challenges underprivileged communities face won’t disappear with the policy; they’ll just be less visible. The fight for equality and social justice must continue, albeit in a different form. The change may spark greater political involvement and resourcefulness in the affected communities, building resilience.

Let’s not forget, before this resilience takes root there will be a period of upheaval. We must prepare and brace ourselves for this significant transition, staying committed to the ideals of equity and inclusion, no matter the legal or political landscape. In the long run, we may look at this as an advantage as it forces us to change the root cause of why we need affirmative action in the first place: poverty, low-paying jobs, lack of healthcare, and, yes, racism. Some look at this as an opportunity for positive development. However, the people who have pushed this to the supreme court are claiming another victory in the right-wing dismantling of all systems and programs that benefit many African American and Hispanic communities..

Through September 24, 2023

ince 2007, the Urban Leadership Foundation of Colorado (ULFC) has been in existence with the simple goal of bolstering Black professionals’ lived and professional experiences. The work has been rewarding and effective, boasting over 450 alumni who are engaged and impacting every major industry in Colorado, from nursing and veteran services to politics and entrepreneurship.

Over the last few years, like many organizations, ULFC has been reflective and has conducted many organizational assessments, taking a critical look at who we are as an organization and how we need to show up for the community. Completing this work resulted in a new strategic plan, additional programs, and a stronger focus which now includes a deeper focus on service, executive leadership presence and cultural identity.

The cultural identity aspect is essential for us; after all, how can a Black leader truly lead if they don’t understand who they are? How can children be complete without actual rites of passage programs? Can we heal as a people if daily forces actively work to silence, block, or erase our access to our historical roots and culture? What does it mean for our mental health to have vital information gaps about who we are? These are only a few questions that led to creating the ULFC international cultural emergence experience in Africa.

This immersive experience helps not only answer these questions but provides a connection and understanding that we believe will support mending and bridging the gaps between Black Americans and our brothers and sisters living in America from Africa. The International Leadership