The Objective Standard Blog

Tuesday, December 5, 2006

‘Racial Balance’ Programs Are Racist

Posted by ARI Media at 9:36 pm

Dear Editor:

In Meredith v. Jefferson County Board of Education and Parents Involved in Community Schools v. Seattle School District No. 1, the Supreme Court will decide whether government schools can ship students around to different schools in the name of achieving a “racial balance.” What are the boards of education in question really advocating? Racism.

Back in the 1950s, when some schools were segregated by race, a monstrous injustice existed. Many students were prevented from going to the best schools because of their skin color—a completely non-essential characteristic. That was racism.

Today’s proposed “racial balance” programs also prevent some students from going to the best schools available to them because of their skin color. This too is racism. Anytime the government arbitrarily treats some of its citizens differently, it commits a horrendous injustice. Let’s hope the Supreme Court remembers that one of its functions is to protect the individual against the government’s abuse of power.

Debi Ghate
Vice President, Academic Programs

Posted in: Education, Individual Rights and Law