Affirmative Discrimination

As 10th graders prepare to start the college process, 11th graders are about to send applications, and 12th graders are about to start freshman year. However, deeply seeded throughout the whole process towards college is a policy known as affirmative action. This policy lets colleges and universities boost or lower certain applications based on their race. This policy is practiced in the name of diversity and balancing decades of racism that has kept certain groups oppressed in the social and economic equation. Historically, African American and Latinx Americans, etc have had a harder time in America, thus they are less likely to be able to afford tutors, SAT preparation, college counselors, etc. However, these can be costly for all ethnicities. Asian Americans are the most disadvantaged by the affirmative action system because they lose the most points in the admissions process, regardless of their financial circumstances. This is why affirmative action ought to be based on wealth, not race. Not all African Americans are financially disadvantaged. Not all Asian Americans have access to resources. Obama’s kids don’t need help getting into college, but a first generation Asian American probably does. But, at the same time, solving for finances instead of just race maintains the policies original purpose. Historically oppressed communities will still benefit if their economic situation is not great. But, basing it on wealth will cut away those who do not need help getting into college and shed new light on communities that might need a boost. On the whole, Affirmative Action as it stands is not solving the problem. With just a small change, the policy could start really helping people.