I would also like to point out that the color of skin does almost necessarily mean a different experience, regardless of economic and cultural background.
An African American who was raised in the exact same environment as a white person, exactly like their twin, would still live a very different life from the white person. The black child would have to deal with different responses from teachers, peers, adults, basically everyone, because no matter how we try to combat it, we all make assumptions based on race. The black child would without a doubt be treated differently, because as Shara said so many times, we live in a racist society. Perhaps it's a comment from a fellow student, perhaps its a girl that he likes who won't date him because he isn't white. There are manifold hypotheticals that one could think of. Plus, a black child raised with a white child would probably face very significant identity issues, which would make his experience even more unique.
Because society can't ignore the color of people's skin, how can we expect, even desire, the admissions processes to remove race from the equation? Affirmative action is an attempt to put a very small band-aid over a huge, gaping wound. It is the only way for us to maintain a semblance of equality in access to education, and even it fails miserably.
Same experience?
I would also like to point out that the color of skin does almost necessarily mean a different experience, regardless of economic and cultural background.
An African American who was raised in the exact same environment as a white person, exactly like their twin, would still live a very different life from the white person. The black child would have to deal with different responses from teachers, peers, adults, basically everyone, because no matter how we try to combat it, we all make assumptions based on race. The black child would without a doubt be treated differently, because as Shara said so many times, we live in a racist society. Perhaps it's a comment from a fellow student, perhaps its a girl that he likes who won't date him because he isn't white. There are manifold hypotheticals that one could think of. Plus, a black child raised with a white child would probably face very significant identity issues, which would make his experience even more unique.
Because society can't ignore the color of people's skin, how can we expect, even desire, the admissions processes to remove race from the equation? Affirmative action is an attempt to put a very small band-aid over a huge, gaping wound. It is the only way for us to maintain a semblance of equality in access to education, and even it fails miserably.