Case Renews Focus on Race in College Admissions

NPR
by Claudio Sanchez
March 1, 2012

College and university presidents are wringing their hands over the U.S. Supreme Court's decision to revisit the issue of affirmative action next fall. Critics of racial preferences are thrilled because the court could significantly restrict the use of race in admissions, but proponents of affirmative action say this would be a huge setback for institutions struggling to diversify their student body.

Their biggest fear? That when the court decides Fisher v. The University of Texas at Austin, colleges will have to once and for all remove race and ethnicity from consideration in their admission policies.

Full Story: http://www.npr.org/2012/03/01/147663617/case-renews-focus-on-race-in-college-admissions

Nell Irvin Painter’s Note to On Point: Race and NYTimes’ Ross Douthat

wbur.org
On Point
Posted by John Wihbey on Wednesday, July 21, 2010

We had a debate today over emerging issues of race, class, and anxiety for whites in 21st century America. (Audio is available here.) New York Times columnist Ross Douthat got the discussion going this week with his column, “The Roots of White Anxiety.”
One of our guests, Nell Irvin Painter, author of “The History of White People” and a longtime Princeton professor, took on some of Douthat’s ideas on air today. And she wrote in after our show to share more thoughts. We post her note here:
To the On Point Blog, from Nell Painter, 21 July 2010:
Today’s program left me wishing I had been able to say more about the historical context of comments like Ross Douthat’s (remember Michael Novak?). And more about the spurious opposition of race versus class.
Issues of race and class, though not the same, aren’t mutually exclusive. Both forces can be operating at the same time, even though race and class are different aspects of an individual or a family’s identity. I feel strongly that the economic status of a college applicant’s family should be taken into account, say through needbased scholarships, because it’s harder to achieve a strong grade-point average if you have to work full-time than if your finances aren’t precarious. An institution like Metropolitan College (formerly Audrey Cohen College) in New York City shows what working adults can do with support. There should be more like it.
Now, as for history: the theme of tracing the anxieties of white Americans to the supposed advantages of other people, especially black people, is far older than affirmative action.

Full Story: http://www.onpointradio.org/2010/07/nell-irvin-painters-note-to-on-point-race-and-nytimes-ross-douthat/comment-page-1#comment-67016

The Promise Of Diversity Is Yet To Be Fulfilled

NPR.com
January 11, 2010

Between the 1970s and today, the term "affirmative action" fell out of favor, and in its place, "diversity" emerged.
Affirmative action, grounded in law and the moral obligation to right historic wrongs, was aimed at women and racial minorities. Over the years, it became tainted by controversy over reverse discrimination and quota-mongering.
Diversity, on the other hand, was perceived to be not about preferences, but "fairness and inclusion." It embraced every group in the workforce: minorities, women, older workers, disabled workers, gays, lesbians — and white males.
Diversity largely was not seen as a burden, but rather as an opportunity. Companies began to see how a diverse workforce could help them venture into new markets.
Recent decades have brought a positive shift in thinking, but challenges still exist, UCLA and Columbia University legal scholar Kimberle Crenshaw tells Morning Edition guest host Deborah Amos.

Full Story
http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=122370935

Listen to the Interview:
http://www.npr.org/templates/player/mediaPlayer.html?action=1&t=1&islist=false&id=122370935&m=122436084

Steele Chairs RNC; Don't Call it Affirmative Action

National Public Radio
John Ridley's "Visible Man"
February 5, 2009

Republicans can be a funny bunch. They're against affirmative action, but they always seem to be able to find people of color to fill a slot just when they're most needed.
After Thurgood Marshall stepped down from the Supreme Court, President Bush (the first) was luckily able to find Clarence Thomas right there at the top of the waiting list to replace him. When Barack Obama looked like he would sail into his Senate seat in 2004, Republicans airlifted in Alan Keyes to run against him.
And now that the nation overwhelmingly voted Obama into the White House, the Republican National Committee has elected its first black American — Michael Steele — as its chairman.
The RNC held what was perhaps its least diverse national convention ever in 2008. The knee-jerk reaction to Steele's election might be to label the move as a desperate affirmative action-type response to Obama, the shifting demographics of America and, as Senate Republican leader Mitch McConnell says, the potential that Republicans will become nothing but a regional party.
Hardly.

Full Commentary: http://www.npr.org/blogs/visibleman/2009/02/steele_elected_rnc_chair_dont_1.html