Affirmative Actions is a controversial and complex issues. If often gets obfuscated by partisan politics and race baiting, but at its core, it acts as an equalizing force. Affirmative action, in the academic context, can best be defined as favoring a person of a specific race or ethnicity to compensate for past racial prejudice. Many progressives contend that affirmative action has largely been an equalizing force in the private secondary and university application process. Conservatives tend to think the classes and schools these relatively underperforming black student attend are “too fast” for them. Pointing to factors like low grades and easy course loads, the real costs of affirmative action remains disputed. While affirmative actions has greatly increased the percentage of student of color getting higher education. While on paper, this looks like a positive turn for our education system, the symptom of the problem is being addressed, rather than the core. The truth of affirmative action is that the students of color who benefit from this policy are also usually the lowest achieving of the applicants.
While affirmative actions temporarily mends the problem of representation at institutions of higher learning, it does not address the underlying issues. One study found psychological stress to be a major factor in dictating perceived ability level in affirmative action students. These stresses are partially due to the “racial opportunity costs” outlined in Chambers’ studies. Some of the Psycho-social costs that generate stress are racial identity, and isolation in schools and classrooms. These can arise due to spotlighting in the classroom. Stresses from the community, like being scrutinized for “passing” and “acting white”.
It is difficult to overstate the real psycho-emotional stress that students of color endure to enter institutions of higher learning, and classes with higher achieving students. When looking at the affirmative action student’s performance in advanced classes and institutions, it is important to mind these stresses as they factor into any honest analysis. In addition, addressing these stresses in a more meaningful way though counseling, peer groups, and on-campus outlets, the results will be likely benefit both the students and the institution.
Understanding affirmative action and other progressive educational policies based on race and income can be mitigated and justified through this lens. It will help bridge the gap between conservatives who reject “discriminatory policies”, and liberals who advocate for this sort of leveling.