American Association for Affirmative Action
Calls Supreme Court Decision on School Desegregation Cases
“A Blow to Equal Opportunity in Education”

The Court’s decision to strike down the Louisville, KY and Seattle School desegregation plans is a tragic blow to the spirit of Brown v। Board of Education

For Immediate Release:
June 28, 2007
Contact: Shirley Wilcher (240) 893-9475
Joyce Pratt (609) 748-0936

Washington – The American Association for Affirmative Action (AAAA), an organization of equal employment opportunity (EEO), diversity and affirmative action professionals founded in 1974, condemned the U.S. Supreme Court’s 5-4 decision in Meredith v. Jefferson County Board of Education (Louisville) and Parents Involved in Community Schools v. Seattle School District (Seattle) as “a tragic blow to the spirit of Brown v. Board of Education.” “Our nation’s school districts must be encouraged to promote integration and equal opportunity for all students. Severely limiting the use of race in school desegregation efforts will have a chilling effect on such efforts” said AAAA president ReNee S. Dunman.

“We believe that those programs were consistent with the Equal Protection Clause of the 14th Amendment, which is intended to bring us together across lines of difference and to provide opportunities, not deny them. The Court’s decision, unfortunately, limits the ability of local school districts to tailor programs to the realities on the ground,” she added.

“In Grutter v. Bollinger, the University of Michigan decision in 2003, Supreme Court Justice Sandra Day O’Connor suggested that we should not need affirmative action in higher education in 25 years. The only way that that prediction has the remotest chance of becoming reality is if we strengthen our elementary and secondary schools to enable all children to have a quality education. Today’s decision may make this prediction less likely,” commented Ms. Dunman. In the Bakke decision, Justice Blackmun wrote that in order to get beyond racism, we must first take account of race. The Court under Alito and Roberts has set back the progress of America’s children by ignoring the reality of race in this nation.

Integrated education provides benefits not only to minority students but also to majority students and the population at large. Research shows that the critical thinking skills of all students improve in racially diverse classrooms. Diverse learning opportunities make all students better problem solvers and communicators, and kids in diverse schools are less likely to develop racial stereotypes or prejudice. Without such integration, we face a generation of young adults who will be unprepared in an increasingly diverse global economy and nation.

“In our view, this is a reminder of how important it is that the Senate closely review all nominees to the federal courts, and confirm only those judges that show a commitment to fulfilling the promise of our Constitution—including the Equal Protection Clause. We plan to work with the U.S. Congress which, like the Court, has the authority and the responsibility to fulfill the promise of Brown vs. Board of Education and the 14th Amendment to the Constitution”, added Ms. Dunman.

AAAA stands committed to partnering with members of the civil rights community and local leaders in Louisville, Seattle, and other communities around the country. Together we will pursue the crucial goal of diverse, inclusive, quality education for all of our children.

Founded in 1974, the American Association for Affirmation Action (AAAA) is a national not-for-profit association of professionals working in the areas of affirmative action, equal opportunity, and diversity। AAAA helps its members to be more successful and productive in their careers. It also promotes understanding and advocacy of affirmative action to enhance access and equality in employment, economic and educational opportunities.

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