Critical Thinking What are the perspectives? Can I verify their statements? How do I build my own understanding? What are the perspectives? Can I verify their statements? How do I build my own understanding?

What are the perspectives? Who is making statements in the article? How does their perspective shape the position they take? Who is making statements in the article? How does their perspective shape the position they take?

Can I verify the statements? Are the statements in the article accurate? How might they be presenting information to support their points while excluding information that does not? Are the statements in the article accurate? How might they be presenting information to support their points while excluding information that does not?

How do I put together my own version? Develop an understanding of the competing viewpoints. Establish the accuracy of the statements. Wikipedia? Use multiple sources. Remember that the sources will follow the perspective of the authors, so you have to take the authors’ intentions into account. Develop an understanding of the competing viewpoints. Establish the accuracy of the statements. Wikipedia? Use multiple sources. Remember that the sources will follow the perspective of the authors, so you have to take the authors’ intentions into account.

Exam Question As a result of the cooperation between the Federal Housing Authority and real estate developers, what is TRUE about the conditions of African-Americans today? Civil Rights legislation eliminating discrimination in housing has led to equality of opportunity for whites and minorities. African-American net worth (wealth) lags behind whites. African-Americans who have similar wealth and income as whites still lag behind whites in rates of college graduation. b and c. As a result of the cooperation between the Federal Housing Authority and real estate developers, what is TRUE about the conditions of African-Americans today? Civil Rights legislation eliminating discrimination in housing has led to equality of opportunity for whites and minorities. African-American net worth (wealth) lags behind whites. African-Americans who have similar wealth and income as whites still lag behind whites in rates of college graduation. b and c.

Access to Education When we looked at the FHA, their policies had direct impacts on the opportunities for minorities. Some are still able to manipulate the system. When we looked at the FHA, their policies had direct impacts on the opportunities for minorities. Some are still able to manipulate the system.

Affirmative Action in Michigan Universities Michigan Ballot Measure bans the use of Race or Gender in college admissions. Similar bans in other states have had dramatic effects. A decade after the California ban, only 2 percent of this year's freshmen at the University of California, Los Angeles, are black: a 30-year low. At Berkeley, the number of blacks in the freshman class plunged by half the year after the ban, and the number of Hispanics nearly as much. NY Times “Colleges Regroup After Voters Ban Race Preferences” Michigan Ballot Measure bans the use of Race or Gender in college admissions. Similar bans in other states have had dramatic effects. A decade after the California ban, only 2 percent of this year's freshmen at the University of California, Los Angeles, are black: a 30-year low. At Berkeley, the number of blacks in the freshman class plunged by half the year after the ban, and the number of Hispanics nearly as much. NY Times “Colleges Regroup After Voters Ban Race Preferences”

What was left in 10 points - Michigan resident 6 points - Underrepresented Michigan county 2 points - Underrepresented state 20 points - Socio- economic disadvantage 10 points - Michigan resident 6 points - Underrepresented Michigan county 2 points - Underrepresented state 20 points - Socio- economic disadvantage 4 points - "Legacy" (parents, step-parents) 1 point - Other (grandparents, siblings, spouses) 20 points - Scholarship athlete 20 points - Provost's discretion

White Privilege Legacies constitute a significant proportion of students accepted to universities, especially Ivy league schools (10-15%) according to the Economist “Harvard accepts 40% of applicants who are children of alumni but only 11% of applicants generally.” Legacies constitute a significant proportion of students accepted to universities, especially Ivy league schools (10-15%) according to the Economist “Harvard accepts 40% of applicants who are children of alumni but only 11% of applicants generally.”

How do we right historical wrongs? Why do people attack affirmative action? Why do you think people do not attack legacies as vigorously? Given the historical inequalities and white privilege, what can be done to provide more equitable access? Why do people attack affirmative action? Why do you think people do not attack legacies as vigorously? Given the historical inequalities and white privilege, what can be done to provide more equitable access?

Why not attack legacies? "Without legacy preference, there would be a significant decrease in giving from a core body of traditional support -- families in which at least a second generation has gone to the institution.” "Without legacy preference, there would be a significant decrease in giving from a core body of traditional support -- families in which at least a second generation has gone to the institution.”

Affirmative Action Doesn’t affect too many people Economic benefits Improves chances for success Compensation for ancestors’ contributions Doesn’t affect too many people Economic benefits Improves chances for success Compensation for ancestors’ contributions Special treatment Should be based on merit People are passed over Focuses on a single group People benefit who are less qualified Legacies

How many people affected? Whites constitute about 70% of the college population according to the US Census. At Berkeley, the number of blacks in the freshman class plunged by half the year after the ban, and the number of Hispanics nearly as much. NY Times “ Colleges Regroup After Voters Ban Race Preferences ” Legacies constitute a significant proportion of students accepted to universities, especially Ivy league schools (10-15%) according to the Economist Whites constitute about 70% of the college population according to the US Census. At Berkeley, the number of blacks in the freshman class plunged by half the year after the ban, and the number of Hispanics nearly as much. NY Times “ Colleges Regroup After Voters Ban Race Preferences ” Legacies constitute a significant proportion of students accepted to universities, especially Ivy league schools (10-15%) according to the Economist

Special Treatment - Past

Special Treatment - Present

Equality vs Social Justice

What to do? Tax breaks Improve/equalize funding for schools Counter discriminatory policies Social programs to help disadvantaged Be color-blind in selection process Make selection process equal Base on merit / qualifications Life’s not fair / Nothing we can do Tax breaks Improve/equalize funding for schools Counter discriminatory policies Social programs to help disadvantaged Be color-blind in selection process Make selection process equal Base on merit / qualifications Life’s not fair / Nothing we can do

Equality and Merit Equality means the same standard Equality does not mean that disadvantaged people should no longer be disadvantaged Merit ignores inequality that exists. Merit implies inferiority is reason for inequality. Absolves majority of their white privilege. Excuses more than just racial inequality. Powerful maintain their positions in society. Equality means the same standard Equality does not mean that disadvantaged people should no longer be disadvantaged Merit ignores inequality that exists. Merit implies inferiority is reason for inequality. Absolves majority of their white privilege. Excuses more than just racial inequality. Powerful maintain their positions in society.

Equality? Women’s restrooms Emergency rooms Wheelchair access Women’s restrooms Emergency rooms Wheelchair access

Fairness over “Equality” In our society, we have made changes when someone’s potential or life could be harmed if we do not deal with barriers to access. Not about disability, but about fairness of access and being conscious of barriers! In our society, we have made changes when someone’s potential or life could be harmed if we do not deal with barriers to access. Not about disability, but about fairness of access and being conscious of barriers!

Social Justice Recognizes a problem / inequality Takes positive steps to resolve it Address income and educational inequalities / discrimination Recognizes a problem / inequality Takes positive steps to resolve it Address income and educational inequalities / discrimination

Social Justice The US education system does not teach social justice. We learn about individual achievement and sameness that we confuse for equality. Color-blindness is NOT equality. Claims that things must be equal ignore inequality. The US education system does not teach social justice. We learn about individual achievement and sameness that we confuse for equality. Color-blindness is NOT equality. Claims that things must be equal ignore inequality.

Social Justice Social Justice is more than equality. Social Justice demands that we recognize inequality and barriers so that we may overcome them to allow everyone to pursue their full potential.

Situated in Time Equality focuses on the present. Social Justice acknowledges the past and looks to the future. Equality focuses on the present. Social Justice acknowledges the past and looks to the future.