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Letters: Why affirmative action is fair

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Re “Real diversity is colorblind,” Opinion, Feb. 7

Jennifer Gratz presents the phony argument that not giving additional credit to African American students applying for college is race-neutral. The argument would be valid only if American society in general were race-neutral, which it is not.

African Americans are much more likely than whites to live in districts with inferior K-12 schools; they are more likely to be at a disadvantage in being prepared to compete for a place in California’s selective universities.

Giving some credit to African American students for this reality is an attempt to level the playing field.

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Al Barrett

Santa Monica

Giving college admission to the top percentage of high school graduates from any school is unfair.

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Guaranteeing admission to every student who graduates in the top 10% or 20% of his or her class in the lowest-performing schools unfairly hurts the chances of candidates with higher academic achievement who fail to make the cut for their schools.

Stuart Shelby

Santa Monica

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