On June 23, 2016, the United States Supreme Court upheld in the Fisher v. University of Texas case the continued use of race-conscious policies in higher education. I must admit that I am somewhat surprised but given the balance of the court of liberal and conservative voices with the absence of Justices Kagan and Scalia, maybe this is what tipped the scale. This decision, … [Read more...]
Never Invited to the 4th of July Party: The Case for Reparations & Citizenship – Part II
With 4th of July events coming up, there will be many gatherings and parties. In any type of party, whether particularly posh or just cool and casual, a set of implicit rules always exists: Don’t eat before everyone else; Don’t get drunk, and Don't talk about politics or religion. However, life for People of Color hasn't exactly been a … [Read more...]
Affirmative Action, Affirming Access, and Coates’ Case for Reparations – Part 1
When I arrived home Friday, May 23 after work, my partner asked me had I heard about the Atlantic article by Ta-Nehisi Coates, The Case for Reparations. I told him no. He was somewhat surprised given that I always seem to be on top of everything, but I had not heard. So, immediately I went to Twitter and searched “case for reparations”, and found a … [Read more...]
Déjà Vu at the 50th Anniversary March on Washington
On Wednesday, August 28, thousands of people will go to Washington D.C. and commemorate the 50th Anniversary of the March on Washington where Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. delivered his famous “I Have a Dream” speech. This first march focused on civil and economic rights for African Americans and has been credited with advancing the passage of both the Civil … [Read more...]
NYPD Stop and Frisk Policy Violates Constitutional Rights of Blacks and Hispanics
On Monday, August 12, 2013, a federal judge ruled that the infamous Stop and Frisk policy of the New York Police Department violated the constitutional rights of Black and Hispanic New Yorkers. While this is a victory in that the ruling acknowledges the humanity and constitutional rights of minorities, I wish these tactics were discontinued altogether. Ultimately, … [Read more...]