Affirmative Action: Past, Present, and Future Trends Through a theoretic interest convergence divergent lens Lorraine A. Jones HI ED 545: Higher Education and Student Affairs in the United States

Interest Convergence Theory The “interest convergent” theory: The majority of white people will only support racial justice only to the extent that there is something in it for them. That is, only to the extend that there is a “convergent” between interest of the majority of white people and the racial justice.

Brown v Board of Education/Civil rights The 1954 decision in Brown v. Board of Education: the idea is that the Supreme Court supported Brown because it served the United States’ cold war agenda of supporting human rights. Moreover, it was a decision that was largely imposed on the south by people in the north. Thus, the interests of those who were devising the decision converged with the interests of the black plaintiffs. President Roosevelt supported Civil rights because it served the United States’ cold war agenda of supporting human rights. Furthermore, it was an embarrassment for the U.S when dignitaries would come to our country and see the manner in which we treated blacks at the same time the U.S was criticizing German Nazis. ddd

Grutter V Bollinger Affirmative action as a compelling government interest on the ground that such programs enhance leading American institutions rather than on the ground that such programs benefit racial minorities and assist in remedying past discrimination. Affirmative action, in the sense of active measures to improve work or educational opportunities for members of historically disadvantaged groups.

Color blind Alternatives What Will It Take? What is the future of affirmative action given the requirements of the fisher court? What can be learned from the experiences of states that created race-neutral strategies in response to voter initiatives and other actions banning consideration of race at public universities? What does research by higher education scholars suggest are the most promising new strategies to promoting diversity in a manner that the courts / the majority of white Americans will support will support? How do public policies need to change in order to tap into the talents of all students in a new legal and political environment? The decision to support such policies will be base on majority desires and what is politically or socially motivating in the future at the time.

Alternative Sheryll Cashin looks at “place not race” geographic location Housing Vouchers Parental Education