This column explores Bayard Rustin's perspective on affirmative action and the use of quotas to address racial inequality. While affirming the reality of systemic discrimination, Rustin argues that lasting equality requires expanding educational and economic opportunity rather than relying on numerical quotas, which he believed risked reinforcing inequality instead of eliminating it.
"The Myths of Black Education" Newspaper Column
This 1973 column finds Bayard Rustin examining changing admissions practices in higher education and questioning approaches intended to advance minority opportunity. Drawing on the work of economist Thomas Sowell, Rustin argues that universities risk replacing genuine educational equity with political assumptions and social engineering. He ultimately emphasizes the importance of supporting students as individuals and ensuring access to meaningful educational opportunities.
