Elite Institutions: Putting a Band-Aid on Racial Inequalities

I have a dream that one day this nation will rise up and live out the true meaning of its creed: "We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal." - Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.

African American rights around the globe have vastly increased since those words resounded at the Lincoln Memorial of Washington D.C. in the United States. No longer are the days of segregated seating areas or bathrooms. Yet, the idea of “improvement” should not be mistaken for achieving equality. Dr. King asked the crowd on that infamous day, when should the black community be satisfied? Well, to many it would seem that today is that day.

But, institutionally equality is yet to be reached. The level of inequality can be seen in various environments. Some feel that existing inequalities are simply a result of the choices made by each racial community.

That the black community simply is not making the right choices, frequently turning to drugs, dropping out of school or violence. Those that believe equality has been reached believe that due to choices made by the racial minorities, these minorities are not as economically successful. Ultimately, these minorities are choosing what they have, higher rates or unemployment and poverty.

These believers do not consider the inequality of opportunity that continues to exist. This exists globally, both here in the UK and abroad. Another strong example is the United States, with its implementation of affirmative action.

The problem is that children of minorities simply do not have the same opportunities to succeed, as the majority do. There is a proven link between self destructive behaviour and poverty, which has thus contributed to the bias formed against the racial minority that associates racial minorities with self destructive behaviour.

These groups are not self destructive because they are African American or Hispanic, but because they are raised in poverty, which fosters self destruction. Both the US and UK demonstrate that climbing the socially ladder is not as feasible as the American Dream makes it sound.

“Forty-three percent of Americans raised in the bottom quintile remain stuck in the bottom as adults . . . [T]he "rags-to-riches" story is more often found in Hollywood than in reality . . . [T]he persistence of the black-white mobility gap undercuts equality of opportunity, a concept central to the idea of the American Dream."-- Pew Charitable Trusts

At the end of the day, if you’re born into poverty, odds are you aren’t moving very far from there, no matter the colour of your skin. This is the reality of our present day situation. This reality is a result of the lack of opportunity for youth. One example is demonstrated by how selective elitist schools operate. When examining elite schools within the US and UK, we see an argument for a type of affirmative action.

UK schools, such as Oxford and Cambridge, refuse to take part; claiming that they are not institutionally racist, they consider all applications equally. Yet, they have rules in place that limit acceptance to elites. These policies include not permitting students to be part time or maintain a job while studying. Even with positive discrimination in place, minority groups cannot take advantage of it. In the end, what positive discrimination is in place favours those who are already elite.

This does not aid in mobility or the betterment of the poverty stricken communities, which are often inhabited by the racial minority. This same issue is reflected within the US, which prides itself on its affirmative action, but only draws its pool of minority students from the top elite or private schools. The education system relies on these top schools to close the achievement gap.

This is like putting a Band-Aid on a gushing wound. It’s a way to claim that each school has met its quota, yet it is not offering mobility for the race at all.

Ultimately, to address the prevailing racial inequality it must start with a change to the social inequality of the youth. Each child needs equal opportunity and this is what the US and UK universities, who claim to have made such strides in equality, are not acknowledging.

Cassie Rodgers