Texas Representative Al Green (D) recently released a statement on his disapproval of the Supreme Court of the United States’s (SCOTUS) ruling against affirmative action.
“Today, the United States Supreme Court has willfully ignored centuries of slavery and invidious racial discrimination in its decision to invalidate the use of race in admitting university students,” said Rep. Green.
Like many other critics of the SCOTUS ruling, Rep. Green stated that the ruling works against racial progress in the United States.
“The Supreme Court has made the primary method of upward mobility in this country even more difficult to access for students of color. Educated young people of color advancing in our society and economy is a goal that people of good will should wholeheartedly support. Regrettably, this is a step backward for our country and a shameful moment in our history."
The Texas representative stated his belief that affirmative action had affected the success of the court’s two black justices, Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson (D) and Justice Clarence Thomas (R).
“It can be argued that Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson and Justice Clarence Thomas are Ivy League graduates because of affirmative action admittance programs. Affirmative action has provided individuals like them a way into Ivy League universities, but not a way out. They become graduates based on merit.”
Justice Brown graduated from Harvard University, and Justice Thomas graduated from Yale University, both are common alma maters among members of the court. Rep. Green stated that affirmative action was still relevant and useful for black Americans.
“Had Justice Jackson and Justice Thomas not been admitted to the Ivy League, it is more than likely that neither would be on the Supreme Court. Affirmative action has provided affirmative opportunities for capable, competent, and qualified persons to succeed on their merits or fail on their demerits. It is still much needed in the face of some 246 years of slavery, more than 88 years of lawful segregation, and ongoing invidious discrimination.”
In other news, Texas Representative Beth Van Duyne (R) recently introduced the “Saving Organs One Flight at a Time Act”. The new legislation uses common-sense reforms to improve the air transportation of human organs.
