A majority of people back the Supreme Court’s decision from last year to end race-conscious admission programs in higher education, according to a survey released Tuesday
A Gallup Center on Black Voices report found that 68% of respondents said the highest court’s June 2023 decision to end affirmative action in colleges and universities is “mostly a good thing.” However, the survey showed a divide among black respondents. Only slightly more, 52%, reported the ruling was a good decision than the 48% who said it was a poor one.
In contrast, Asian, Hispanic, and white adults mostly view the ruling favorably. The survey found that 63% of Asian people, 68% of Hispanic people, and 72% of white people agreed with the court’s move to end affirmative action — 38%, 32%, and 28%, respectively, viewed the decision as a negative thing.
The survey, conducted from Oct. 25 to Nov. 9, 2023, also found a generational divide among black adults. Nearly half of black adults ages 18 to 59 who are non-college graduates and have thought about pursuing a bachelor’s degree in the past two years believe the ruling will have “a great deal” or “a fair amount” of influence over which colleges they might send applications to. Forty-three percent of Hispanic respondents said the decision would affect their application routes, compared to 39% of white adults. Ranking the highest, three in four Asian adults in this group reported their decisions on where to apply will be affected.
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Last summer, the majority-conservative Supreme Court ended race-conscious college admissions through two decisions — Students for Fair Admissions Inc. v. University of North Carolina and Students for Fair Admissions Inc. v. President and Fellows of Harvard College. In a 6-3 decision, Chief Justice John Roberts wrote in the majority opinion that for too long, universities have “concluded, wrongly, that the touchstone of an individual’s identity is not challenges bested, skills built, or lessons learned but the color of their skin. Our constitutional history does not tolerate that choice.”
The June ruling renewed the debate over legacy admissions in higher education — long benefiting white and wealthy students. Republican lawmakers used the momentum of the Supreme Court’s verdict to target diversity, equity, and inclusion in schools and corporate America.
