Affirmative Action and Why It Is Necessary

Racial affirmative action is necessary within the western school application process because of existing socioeconomic conditions attached to race by society, and, with that, admissions departments using those conditions to make assumptions about applicants. Because of damaging institutions based out of white supremacy, like slavery, wartime internment camps, redlining, and educational segregation, a lot of non-white people live their lives at a disadvantage in several fields, including the application process. After eighteen years of one’s education potential being stifled by circumstances created by oppression, such as under-resourced schooling, a personal lack of educational resources, a lacking support network, and/or poverty, the college application process is especially strenuous and difficult. Colleges should look to those disadvantaged in society and give them a leg up, through admissions, to give clear opportunity to more than just the explicitly qualified, and affirmative action is the way to do that. Non-white students who are not in deeply disprivileged position also need affirmative action, because it de-empowers negative racial biases. A competent admissions department versed in giving opportunity to those disadvantaged by oppressions attached to race through their experience with affirmative action will know to look past racial bias when making their choices. Affirmative action stands as vital for the application process as long as the white-run West is racist.