Contextualizing Race: African American College Choice in an Evolving Affirmative Action Era

摘要: Using a critical race theory framework, this study examines the ways in which and racialized ideologies are manifested high-stakes college admissions, debate over affirmative action, choice behavior of Black high school students. This allows for voices students California to describe their lived experiences with Proposition 209, suggesting deeper meaning action than simply it affected institutional practices related admissions decisions. The results indicate that, following end California, had altered perceptions where they were welcome belonged higher education. can help colleges universities create, maintain, or improve positive welcoming climate color wake such policy changes. In November, 1996, State adopted an amendment Constitution that proposed eliminate discriminatory public employment, government contracting, institutions education (Legislative Analyst's Office, 1996). Affirmative programs, bill's proponents argued, gave unfair preferences underrepresented minorities women, misrepresenting spirit intent Civil Rights Act 1964 (Kennedy & Jeffrey, 1997; Act, 1964). While legislation impacted all agencies state, consequences universities, University (UC) particularly, immediate dramatic. Research has primarily focused on extent 209 enrollment at California's most selective flagship institutions-University Berkeley (UCB) Los Angeles (UCLA), experienced drastic decline freshmen (Alien, Bonous-Hammarth, Teranishi, 2001; Karabel, 1999). Following enactment single year between 1997 1998, first-time decreased 43% UCLA 38% UCB (UC Office President, Other studies have more specifically how admission processes UC campuses without use as consideration changed admit rate Blacks system (Espenshade Chung, 2005; Liu, 2002; Ralph J. Bunche Center, 2006). these suggested was direct result normalization standards admissions. other words, elimination race-based coupled increasing admission, meant fewer grades test scores be competitive made significant contributions understanding institutions, adjustments policies, practices, procedures enrollment, do not necessarily account student accordance dramatic change policy. Journal Higher Education (JBHE) hypothesized there number strong who might otherwise attended chose, instead, apply to, and, some cases, attend, private colleges, about less acrid perceived environment ("Proposition 209," Their assertion based decrease applicants occurred despite increase total Furthermore, while decreasing, applications increasing. Claremont McKenna College, institution Southern unexplainable from 83 117 …