This 12-minute video examines contemporary and historical Supreme Court cases dealing with affirmative action. For decades, the Supreme Court upheld the consideration of race in college admissions. But in 2023, the Supreme Court rejected the consideration of race as a factor in college admissions. The Court sided with challenges to admissions practices at Harvard, which was accused of discriminating against Asian Americans, and at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, where plaintiffs argued that unfair preference was given to Black, Native American and Hispanic students, putting white and Asian applicants at a disadvantage. Both universities defended their admissions practices, citing past Supreme Court rulings that support the use of race as a factor.
Why the Supreme Court Endorsed, Then Limited Affirmative Action
Ruling in a case that challenged practices that colleges use to select a diverse student body, the Supreme Court reverses itself.
The Supreme Court has rejected the consideration of race as a factor in colleges’ efforts to create a diverse student body. For decades, the court upheld race-based affirmative action in college admissions, most recently in a ruling in 2016. But in June, the court sided with challenges to admissions practices at Harvard, which was accused of discriminating against Asian Americans, and at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, where plaintiffs argued that unfair preference was given to to Black, Native American and Hispanic students, putting white and Asian applicants at a disadvantage. Both universities defended their policies, citing past Supreme Court rulings in support of the use of race as a factor.
In this video, Retro Report looks at an important test case in 2003, when Justice Sandra Day O’Connor cast the crucial vote to uphold race-based admissions policies, despite her concerns about unintended consequences.
This video was released in collaboration with Pulitzer Center, The Hechinger Report and WCNY/PBS.
Educators, check out this video’s accompanying lesson plan and see our Supreme Court collection.
Browse through dozens more lesson plans and videos here.
- Lesson plan 1: Affirmative Action in College Admissions
- Read transcript
- Producer: Kit R. Roane
- Editor: Anne Checler
- Update Editor: Heru Muharrar