by Robyn Keyster

Created on: October 06, 2009   Last Updated: October 09, 2009

Long considered the land of opportunity, the United States has nonetheless historically denied certain groups the opportunity to obtain an education. African-Americans, women, Jews, Native Americans, and a host of other ethnic, racial, and religious groups have, in the past, found themselves effectively shut out of real educational opportunity.

As a result, during the latter half of the twentieth century, the U.S. experienced a strong push for a more inclusive higher education system. During this rapidly-changing era, race became a factor in some college and university admissions processes. Those who belonged to racial groups that had been discriminated against in the past particularly African-Americans and Hispanics received special consideration. Some schools awarded admissions bonus points for those belonging to a certain race, whereas others instituted race-based quota systems.

Perhaps unsurprisingly, the notion of mentioning and/or emphasizing race in college admissions has proven quite controversial. Some argue that using race as a factor was necessary in the past, but not in the twenty-first century. Others point out how other factors, such as gender, religious affiliation, and socioeconomic background should be considered along with race. Still others decry the idea of using race at all; admissions should be based on academic merit and nothing else.

Should race be considered as a factor in college admissions? Certainly there are racial groups in the U.S. who still bear the brunt of historic discrimination. Having been brought to this country involuntarily, it's no surprise that African-Americans still lag other groups in terms of traditional achievement (education and wealth-amassment). While not enslaved per se, other racial groups have also had to fight, sometimes literally, for the rights most white Americans take for granted.

As one can see by glancing at other countries' sociological profiles, groups that have faced discrimination must work doubly hard to catch up to the group unburdened by prejudice. Considering this, race-based admissions makes sense. Opportunity has been taken from certain groups, but increased access to education might give some of it back.

Besides providing opportunity, race-based admissions also officially acknowledge past discrimination. As those who participated in the Civil Rights Movement (and other social justice-related causes) can likely attest, formal recognition is the first step towards eradication. Problems can't

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