Affirmative Action Ruling ‘Just the End of the Beginning’

Supreme Court sounds a knell for race-based university admissions and opens the way for the next fight — board rooms.

AP Photo/Manuel Balce Ceneta
Edward Blum at Washington in 2014. AP Photo/Manuel Balce Ceneta

“Eliminating racial discrimination means eliminating all of it.” Those are the words of the Chief Justice of the United States, John Roberts, in finding that Harvard and the University of North Carolina have — in their race-based admissions policies — been violating the Equal Protection Clause of the Constitution. The decision is a major step in redeeming America’s  constitutional commitment to a more perfect Union.

It happens that two days before the decision, we had a long and moving phone conversation with, in Edward Blum, the civil rights leader who set the winning strategy against race-based affirmative action. He is not a lawyer, just an all-American idealist. It is he who organized Students for Fair Admissions, which was the plaintiff in the cases against Harvard and the University of North Carolina. He has devoted his life to this struggle.

Enter your email to read this article.

Get 2 free articles when you subscribe.

or
Have an account? This is also a sign-in form.
By continuing you agree to our Privacy Policy and Terms of Service.
Advertisement
The New York Sun

© 2025 The New York Sun Company, LLC. All rights reserved.

Use of this site constitutes acceptance of our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. The material on this site is protected by copyright law and may not be reproduced, distributed, transmitted, cached or otherwise used.

The New York Sun

Sign in or  Create a free account

or
By continuing you agree to our Privacy Policy and Terms of Use