The Death of Affirmative Action?: Racialized Framing and the Fight Against Racial Preference in College Admissions (Sociology of Diversity)

In the light of high-profile Supreme Court cases surrounding affirmative action, this book looks at the actors involved in the debate and what they are saying. That is, the book looks at who is setting the line of discussion in the Supreme Court by look at legal documents arguing for and against the case as well as the framing techniques they use to make their arguments noteworthy. Findings demonstrate that while supporters are made of a heterogeneous array of individuals and groups with a stake in affirmative action in higher education (e.g., students, professors, etc.), opponents are mainly represented by think tanks and other interest groups. Furthermore, this book finds that frames vary greatly between the groups, with supporters raising concern of what eliminating the policy will mean for minority students and opponents conversely arguing that such a policy is dangerous for our society and for those who merit inclusion into elite universities would not benefit from affirmative action. This book uses prominent sociological theories to put these arguments in broader contexts. Affirmative action in college admissions has been a polarizing policy since its inception, decried by some as unfairly biased and supported by others as a necessary corrective to institutionalized inequality. In recent years, the protected status of affirmative action has become uncertain, as legal challenges chip away at its foundations. This book looks through a sociological lens at both the history of affirmative action and its increasingly tenuous future. J. Scott Carter and Cameron D. Lippard first survey how and why so-called "colorblind" rhetoric was originally used to frame affirmative action and promote a political ideology. The authors then provide detailed examinations of a host of recent Supreme Court cases that have sought to threaten or undermine it. Carter and Lippard analyze why the arguments of these challengers have successfully influenced widespread changes in attitude toward affirmative action, concluding that the discourse and arguments over these policies are yet more unfortunate manifestations of the quest to preserve the racial status quo in the United States Affirmative action in US college admissions has inspired fierce debate as well as several US Supreme Court cases. In this significant study, leading US professors J. Scott Carter and Cameron D. Lippard provide an in-depth examination of the issue using sociological, policy and legal perspectives to frame both pro- and anti-affirmative action arguments, within past and present Supreme Court cases. With affirmative action policy under constant attack, this is a crucial book that not only explains the state of this policy but also further deconstructs the state of race and racism in American society today. Affirmative Action In Us College Admissions Have Inspired Fierce Debate And Several Us Supreme Court Cases. In This Significant Study, Leading Us Professors J. Scott Carter And Cameron D. Lippard Provide An In-depth Examination Of The Issue Using Sociological, Policy And Legal Perspectives To Frame Both Pro- And Anti-affirmative Action Arguments, Within Past And Present Supreme Court Cases. With Affirmative Action Policy Under Constant Attack, This Is An Urgent Addition Not Only To Explain The State Of This Policy But Also To Further Deconstruct The Current State Of Race And Racism In American Society. Front cover Halftitle Page Title Page Copyright Page Table of Contents List of Figures and Tables Series Editor Preface 1. Introduction 2. Affirmative Action and Higher Education 3. Race, the Affirmative Action Debate, Education, and Past Court Cases 4. Who is Fighting the Fight? 5. Case Study 1: The Gratz/Grutter Supreme Court Cases against the University of Michigan 6. Case Study 2: The Fisher Supreme Court Cases against the University of Texas at Austin 7. Conclusions References Index Back cover Can Affirmative Action In Us College Admissions Survive Mounting Threats? This Judicious Review, Part Of The Sociology Of Diversity Series, Considers The Question Using Up-to-date Sociological, Policy And Legal Perspectives To Explain Both Sides Of The Fierce Debate Over Affirmative Action In The Context Of Prominent Supreme Court Cases.