Building a More Inclusive Agenda: A Survey of Congressional Priorities Across Race | Racial Equity Priorities

JOINT CENTER | OCTOBER 11, 2023
By LaShonda Brenson, Ph.D. and Kimberly Victor

Discussions about race-conscious policies, the policies that address systemic barriers facing people of color, have experienced a resurgence in recent years. Proponents of race-conscious policies cite the benefits these policies provide racial and ethnic groups and the benefits of diversity to society as a whole.1 However, some critics believe that any “race-consciousness” in educational and employment decisions is inherently discriminatory, as these decisions should be focused strictly on merit.2 On June 29, 2023, in Students for Fair Admissions v. Harvard, the Supreme Court struck down affirmative action in college admissions, which overturned over 40 years of precedent.3 Following this decision, advocates on both sides of the debate have increasingly raised arguments for and against race-conscious policymaking.