The UNCF states that Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) have always been crucial to the Black community, acting as sources of empowerment and agents of change. Despite enduring systemic marginalization and insufficient funding over time, these esteemed institutions have significantly influenced societal change beyond their perceived capacity even in the area of Climate Resilience!
Historically Black colleges and universities are experiencing a rise in applications and enrollments from students of various nationalities, following a period of decline in the 1980s. The National Center for Education Statistics reported a 10% increase in the enrollment of Black students at HBCUs in 2021. Dr. Michael L. Lomax, President and CEO of UNCF, emphasized the importance of HBCUs in addressing climate challenges to create a future where communities can thrive and contribute to human progress. He highlighted that HBCUs are well-positioned to lead the way towards a greener and more equitable future for all.
Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs), such as Morehouse College in Atlanta, Georgia, have experienced a surge in applications. For instance, Morehouse College saw a 60% increase in applications in 2020 compared to the previous year, as reported by Data USA. This rise in applications is attributed by leaders to a racial awakening and efforts to bolster student success. Similarly, Morgan State University in Baltimore, another HBCU, has achieved historic enrollment numbers, with a 27% increase and 9,808 students enrolled this past fall. In contrast, there has been significant controversy surrounding the admissions of BIPOC students at Ivy League schools. Asian American applicants were found to have 28% lower chances of being admitted to an Ivy League school compared to white applicants with comparable academic and extracurricular profiles. This disparity was even more marked among South Asian students with darker complexions, who had 49% lower odds of admission.
This pattern stems from two factors. First, many selective colleges give preference to the children of alumni in admissions. We find that white applicants were substantially more likely to have such legacy status than Asian applicants. Second, we identify geographic disparities potentially reflective of admissions policies that disadvantage students from certain regions of the United States. We hope these results inform discussions on equity in higher education.
The documentary entitled "Admissions Granted" chronicles the long history of conservative efforts to roll back Educational Diversity Equity and Inclusion programs, including prior court decisions like Regents of the University of California v. Bakke in 1978, which struck down racial quotas, and Grutter v. Bollinger in 2003, which permitted schools to use affirmative action for campus diversity as long as race was only one factor considered among many. The ire they have for these programs seems to be based on a fear of not being able to compete on a level playing field that threatens white privilege.
The essence of these cases centered on the definition of discrimination in the United States and what is permissible under federal law and the US Constitution. The Supreme Court, in its 2023 decision on the Harvard and UNC cases, found the institutions' admissions systems illegal. The court asserted, "To eliminate racial discrimination, one must eliminate it entirely... 'Equal protection under the law must not signify one thing for one individual and another for someone of a different color.'"
In her dissenting opinion, Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson refuted that claim. "Our nation has never practiced colorblindness," she stated. "Considering America's extensive history of state-endorsed racial preferences, the notion that individuals are victimized when a college evaluates whether this legacy of discrimination has disproportionately benefited its applicants ignores the extensively recorded 'intergenerational transmission of inequality' that continues to affect our citizens."
Amidst all these developments, what is the position of Asian Americans? The documentary alleges that they have been portrayed as the forefront of a conservative opposition to affirmative action spanning decades. Starting with President John F. Kennedy's Executive Order 10925 in 1961, the US government initiated tentative steps towards a concept of equality within a perceived racially binary society. This concept has since sparked numerous debates, political conflicts, and legal disputes concerning the true essence of fairness and equality.
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