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Nothing is more un-American than facing limitations in your potential due to your ethnic background or skin color. The recent Supreme Court decision, announced on June 29, in the consolidated cases of Students for Fair Admissions, Inc. (SFFA) v. Harvard and University of North Carolina, is a significant victory for the American Dream and students nationwide.
For four decades, American colleges and universities have discriminated against Asian Americans under the guise of promoting diversity. Despite the Civil Rights Act of 1964, which prohibits race-based discrimination, prominent institutions have continued to use race and ethnicity as grounds for denying admission to certain groups. This discriminatory nature of affirmative action has greatly affected the approximately 22 million Asian Americans who deserve equal educational opportunities.
SUPREME COURT JUSTICES THOMAS, SOTOMAYOR READ AFFIRMATIVE ACTION OPINIONS FROM THE BENCH IN RARE MOVE
When this case was brought before the court, Harvard President Lawrence Bacow accused the plaintiffs of having political motivations. However, this statement couldn’t be further from the truth.
The Supreme Court ruled 6-3 to end racial discrimination in college admissions. Here are the justices: (front row L-R) Associate Justice Sonia Sotomayor, Associate Justice Clarence Thomas, Chief Justice of the United States John Roberts, Associate Justice Samuel Alito, and Associate Justice Elena Kagan, (back row L-R) Associate Justice Amy Coney Barrett, Associate Justice Neil Gorsuch, Associate Justice Brett Kavanaugh and Associate Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson. (Alex Wong/Getty Images)
A 2019 survey conducted by the National Association for College Admission Counseling revealed that 24.6% of schools admitted that race played a “considerable” or “moderate” role in admissions decisions.
This bias is significant enough that reputable sources like the Princeton Review recommend that Asian high school students avoid including their photo, refrain from answering questions about their ethnicity, and abstain from writing admissions essays about their cultural background in order to increase their chances of admission.
It’s truly disheartening that academically accomplished students are forced to conceal their identities in order to have a fair chance at attending a university. As someone who immigrated to the United States from South Korea at the age of 19 to pursue an education in California, I firmly believe that in this country, your actions should determine your fate, not your race, ethnicity, or socio-economic background.
I have dedicated decades of my life to ensuring that students of all races and backgrounds are evaluated solely on their merits. In 1996, I played a key role in campaigning for California’s Proposition 209, which banned the use of racial preferences in public hiring, education, and contracting. Following the passage of Proposition 209, graduation rates significantly improved for all minorities. Californians recognized the value of eliminating racial discrimination in education and overwhelmingly rejected efforts to reintroduce racial preferences in 2021.
In a recent interaction, I questioned the Secretary of Education about these discriminatory practices at universities such as Harvard, and he agreed that students should be given equal opportunities based on their own merit.
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Most recently, I led an amicus brief with 81 of my colleagues in Congress to support the plaintiffs of SFFA v. Harvard and U.N.C., and I am proud to witness the positive outcome of our efforts in the Supreme Court’s decision.
I immigrated to this country from South Korea when I was 19 years old to pursue an education in California. I am living my American Dream because, in this country, your actions determine your fate — not your race, ethnicity, or socio-economic background.
As a nation, we embrace the teachings of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., emphasizing that individuals should not be judged by the color of their skin but by the content of their character. Unfortunately, American universities have conveniently disregarded this belief for 40 years. However, with the recent Supreme Court ruling, a new era begins for higher education. Thanks to the courageous young individuals who spoke out against racial discrimination, future students can be confident that their journey towards achieving the American Dream will be driven solely by their efforts and accomplishments.
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Racial and ethnic discrimination have no place in our great nation. We are a country of immigrants, and individuals from all ethnic and racial backgrounds contribute unique value to the American melting pot. However, we cannot undermine the opportunities of others in the pursuit of equality.
The Supreme Court’s decision reaffirms our commitment to the American creed of liberty and justice for all. I eagerly anticipate the remarkable achievements of the young men and women who will now have the opportunity to fully realize their potential, knowing that the American Dream is alive and well.
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