Literature Post #4, Black and Hispanic Representation at Top Colleges

 

Jeremy Ashkenas, Haeyun Park, and Adam Pearce's article "Even With Affirmative Action, Blacks and Hispanics Are More Underrepresented at Top Colleges Than 35 Years Ago" examines the racial gap of representation at America's top colleges, such as state flagships and Ivy League institutions. It's been very useful and key into my study around these racial gaps, how they connect to affirmative action. The article focuses on how freshman enrollment representation at these colleges hasn't change much, and in fact have gotten worse in some cases. Black Americans in 1980 made up roughly 13% of the student age population, yet in top schools, only 6% are enrolled at elite schools. From then to 2015, the college age black population rose to 15%, yet the percent enrolled remained unchanged. Not only is black college enrollment failing to maintain itself at top institutions, it's actively degrading over time. This would point to systematic issues of enrollment, social justice, and the like. This extends long before college begins even with elementary school. In primary and secondary schooling, or K-12, with predominantly black and hispanic student bodies, they preemptively lack resources and opportunities in various ways that limit their potential growth into higher education, such as advanced programs, school supplies, facilities, teachers, etc. The state of affirmative action is also examined, analyzing how affirmative action bans--or lack thereof--affect minority enrollment, with some cases being clearer than others. This piece not only takes a good look at the immediate racial gaps and disparities, but why they exist, how far they extend, and how they can be addressed.

Key Terms:

Affirmative Action: the policy or practice of allocating available resources in favor of groups who have previously or presently face discrimination.

Racial Gap: a disparity of success and well being between two or more races, usually concerning wealth, education, and employment.

Enrollment Representation: the balance demographics of a state or nation's college enrollment versus the total population of college age people from these same demographics.

Quotes:

"Black students make up 9 percent of the freshmen at Ivy League schools but 15 percent of college-age Americans, roughly the same gap as in 1980. (A category for multiracial students, introduced in 2008, has slightly reduced the share of black students.)"

"The number of Hispanic and black freshmen on the University of California campuses declined immediately after California’s affirmative action ban took effect, especially at the most sought-after campuses, said Stephen Handel, associate vice president for undergraduate admissions. The system put the ban in place in 1998."

"Affirmative action increases the numbers of black and Hispanic students at many colleges and universities, but experts say that persistent underrepresentation often stems from equity issues that begin earlier."

Authors:

Jeremy Ashkenas, Haeyun Park, and Adam Perce are all journalists with several years of experience both reporting and working with The New York Times, with Ashkenas joining as early as 2011. They all hold different positions, working in multiple fields of study with a heavy portfolio into politics, sociology, and social issues.

Citation:

Ashkenas, Jeremy, et al. “Even With Affirmative Action, Blacks and Hispanics Are More Underrepresented at Top Colleges Than 35 Years Ago.” The New York Times, The New York Times, 24 Aug. 2017, www.nytimes.com/interactive/2017/08/24/us/affirmative-action.html.