Yesterday, the Supreme Court voted to limit the use of race in school integration plans. The court declared that public school systems cannot seek to achieve or maintain integration through measures that take explicit account of a student’s race. In an opinion by Chief Justice John Roberts the court invalidated programs in Seattle and Louisville, KY (see previous post). Both programs used school-by-school programs that took race in account in order to maintain diversity. Lower courts had upheld the programs.
Chief Justice Roberts said such programs were “directed only to racial balance, pure and simple.” His view is this goes against the Constitution’s guarantee of equal protection. What he’s really saying is he’s wants to make sure white people maintain the upper hand. Clearly black people are overstepping their bounds when they try to ensure that their children get a decent education. Has this man ever been to a single rundown inner-city public school?
His statement that “the way to stop discrimination on the basis of race is to stop discrimination on the basis of race,” is a simplification that only an idiot would utter. I don’t know what’s more concerning, that poor, children of color will no longer have access to decent schools, or that our Supreme Court Justices are not only not in touch with the realities of racism in this country, but quite possibly are incredibly stupid.
I will be very interested to see what our black leaders and presidential candidates have to say about this decision. While there is nothing that can be done to overturn this mess, I think it brings to light the importance of who becomes our next President in terms of future court appointments. Unfortunately the majority of us are stuck with this ignorant and borderline racist Supreme Court for quite some time. I don’t think any of us should be surprised when they begin dismantling Affirmative Action.
