The Boston Women’s Fund is completely furious about today’s Supreme Court ruling striking down affirmative action in college admissions.
The impact of their decisions in the Students For Fair Admissions v. Harvard and Students For Fair Admissions v. University Of North Carolina cases will set back decades of critical progress toward creating racial equity -— not only in our higher education system but across our workplaces at large.
We have witnessed one thing after another attacking the most vulnerable people in this country, and we will not let it pass without a fight. As infuriating as this is, we know that the power is always with the people. These are the times that BWF was made for, and the BWF family has reminded us of this over the last 40 years.
As funders, we have relationships with leaders across so many industries, corporate collaborators, and allies in higher education. If the federal government can not stand strong in valuing and protecting diversity, the people must. Now is the time to stay vigilant. We can’t help but recall the outpouring of pledges made by corporations and institutions across the country in the summer of 2020 vowing to stand with Black and Brown people, hire more people of color, and commit to equity. Now is the time to double down and hold organization leaders accountable for the promises they’ve made and their professed commitments to diversity.
We are firm in our dedication to realizing a world where opportunity and access are available to everyone, especially those who have been persistently marginalized. BWF will remain steadfast in our commitment to diversity, inclusion, and belonging because that is the path to liberation.
We will continue educating ourselves about the many ways this will impact other sectors, and as always, we will bring you along on that journey.
In Solidarity,
Natanja Craig Oquendo
Executive Director, Boston Women's Fund