Race Based Admissions and Affirmative Action: Revisiting Historical Implications on Black Students in Higher Education

The legacy of discrimination and oppression against Black Americans has influenced the development and implementation of policies rooted in a desire to decrease inequities. However, the parallels of advancements in civil rights efforts and simultaneous challenges associated with systemic barriers to social mobility have created a paradox of perspectives surrounding Black education in the U.S. Among these varying viewpoints exists a critique of the continued use of Affirmative Action to support the access and enrollment of Black students in higher education. Affirmative Action has had several positive and negative impacts on the experiences of Black students in higher education. The authors provide a historical overview of Affirmative Action policies and its implications on higher education for Black students.