Affirmative action

To NYT

 “Why are we rewarding children for privileges and advantages accrued by prior generations?” asked Ivan Espinoza-Madrigal, executive director of Lawyers for Civil Rights,” which is handling the case of those who would remove legacy admission priviliges to key universities like Harvard.

Good question. Maybe we shouldn’t. But let’s note this: that if we exclude from privileges those who acccrued advantages in past generations, that is, if it is only the here and now that counts, should we then not also go thumbs down on those movements which would favour those who were disadvantaged in past generations—which is the essence of the affirmative action position just struck down by the Supreme Court? In other words, isn’t Espinoza-Madrigal arguing against the same, supposedly underprivileged,  people he is setting out to help?

Ermes Culos