My Overriding Concern About the Supreme Court Decision on Race-Conscious Admissions

To be clear, I am very concerned that the recent Supreme Court decision will make it significantly more difficult to achieve the racial diversity which is so important to achieving the positive  learning environment which diversity, including racial diversity, has been shown to provide. 

But this is not my only concern.I am deeply worried that this decision will be interpreted incorrectly and cynically  presented by many as validating and justifying the unfounded and counter-factual assertion that racism and racial inequities no longer exist. They will therefore argue that there is no justification for special programs and initiatives to address what are undeniably self-evident, significant racially defined and influenced systemic gaps in education, health care, employment, work place practices, police actions, application of prison sentences, housing, lending practices and more. 

Those of us who recognize that the perverse effects of racist influenced polices, attitudes and cultures are still with us, even if not always motivated today by conscious racism, must redouble our commitment to achieve racial justice. We know that significant racial inequities arising from policies and cultures-- some of the past, some still with us--demand continued intentional action and intervention and measured assessment of progress if we are to have justice for all and enjoy the manifold benefits a diverse society offers.