The articles “Class Action- A Challenge To Class-Based Affirmative Action” and “Affirmative Action Based on Income”, written by Nikole Hannah-Jones and Richard D. Kahlenberg, respectively, debate the merits of both affirmative action based on race and on socioeconomic class. Kahlenberg makes the claim that class is a bigger disadvantage than race in modern America to achieving a higher level of education. Jones, conversely, presents the counterargument that race continues to be the largest obstacle to higher education. While both Jones and Kahlenberg make good claims, it is Jones’ claim that stands stronger. Despite their differing opinions on what should be done with preferencing in admissions to schools, Kahlenberg and Jones share a few
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This however, is where their agreement ends, Kahlenberg believes that the system that should replace affirmative action based on race should be a system that provides preference based on socioeconomic class. This argument hinges on the idea that this system would be a good replacement for the current system as it would still provide racial diversity of an equal magnitude to the diversity of the race-based affirmative action while adding support for those that are economically disadvantaged. Kahlenberg provides evidence for this claim when he states that a study on the use of non-race based affirmative …show more content…
Kahlenberg uses it to prove the existence of large disparities between the preferences given based on race and those given based on class when he states “racial affirmative action tripled the representation of African American and Latino students, compared with admissions from a system based on grades and test scores, but that those in the bottom economic half received no boost”(Kahlenberg, pg. 2) as a result of the race based system. While this evidence supports Kahlenberg’s claim that class should be an important factor in the application process, the evidence that Jones presents from Carnevale and Rose undercuts the whole idea that a system that is race-neutral can still meet diversity standards. Jones presents a statement from Carnevale and Rose that claims that a class based affirmative action program “might appeal to Americans ready to embrace a post-racial American ideal, but it still won 't work.” Despite years of research trying “to prove that you get race by getting the right socioeconomic factor," Carnevale said. "We can never do it."”(Jones, pg 5) By pointing out that the people who conducted the studies that Kahlenberg quotes don’t think that this system would work, Jones shows how Kahlenberg picked and chose only evidence that supported his argument from a source that disagrees with his idea. Simultaneously, she demonstrates that her use of Rose and Carnevale’s
This however, is where their agreement ends, Kahlenberg believes that the system that should replace affirmative action based on race should be a system that provides preference based on socioeconomic class. This argument hinges on the idea that this system would be a good replacement for the current system as it would still provide racial diversity of an equal magnitude to the diversity of the race-based affirmative action while adding support for those that are economically disadvantaged. Kahlenberg provides evidence for this claim when he states that a study on the use of non-race based affirmative …show more content…
Kahlenberg uses it to prove the existence of large disparities between the preferences given based on race and those given based on class when he states “racial affirmative action tripled the representation of African American and Latino students, compared with admissions from a system based on grades and test scores, but that those in the bottom economic half received no boost”(Kahlenberg, pg. 2) as a result of the race based system. While this evidence supports Kahlenberg’s claim that class should be an important factor in the application process, the evidence that Jones presents from Carnevale and Rose undercuts the whole idea that a system that is race-neutral can still meet diversity standards. Jones presents a statement from Carnevale and Rose that claims that a class based affirmative action program “might appeal to Americans ready to embrace a post-racial American ideal, but it still won 't work.” Despite years of research trying “to prove that you get race by getting the right socioeconomic factor," Carnevale said. "We can never do it."”(Jones, pg 5) By pointing out that the people who conducted the studies that Kahlenberg quotes don’t think that this system would work, Jones shows how Kahlenberg picked and chose only evidence that supported his argument from a source that disagrees with his idea. Simultaneously, she demonstrates that her use of Rose and Carnevale’s