affirmative action reflections
I’m grateful for post-secondary institutions—such as HBCUs, community colleges, and tribal colleges—that consistently love and accept us and affirm that we belong. That have open arms, inviting us to “come home.”
One thing I have learned as a Harvard graduate student is that we belong there, too—we belong at an institution that was built, in large part, through the exploitation and labor of our ancestors. And for those of us who choose to take on this fight, we are in good company.
Although I know the court’s decision is disheartening to many (including me), it is also an opportunity to continue re-imaging college access and the many parts of the admissions process that maintain inequity and exclusion: standardized tests, donor and legacy preferences, unaffordable tuition and fees, etc. This was a blow to many diversity, equity, and inclusion efforts, yet I believe there is still much room for hope, creativity, and perseverance.
