HAMPTON, Virginia — In a deeply troubling development, the Supreme Court has delivered a verdict against affirmative action initiatives at Harvard and the University of North Carolina. This ruling, celebrated by conservatives as a triumph for a “colorblind” Constitution, strikes a harsh blow to the Black community and other minority groups. These communities have historically relied on such programs to establish equity in higher education.

The judgment marks a dangerous pivot in the nation’s approach to racial justice. It sketches a future where the systemic hurdles encountered by Black people and other minority groups are dismissed in favor of a misguided notion of “colorblindness.” This concept, while seemingly fair on the surface, fails to acknowledge the stark reality of racial disparities in America. It undermines the pursuit of genuine racial justice by neglecting the systemic racism that has been deeply embedded in our society for centuries.