Why I Support Prop 16
In working with Asian American college students from different ethnic backgrounds for almost 15 years, I learned a lot about the limitless imagination that these students bring in spite of unique challenges. I worked with these students in a particular way because I knew that their racial experience requires me to bring that perspective when working with them. As such, these students are able to thrive because they bring their full selves in an environment that recognizes and appreciates those experiences. Unfortunately, California’s current ban on affirmative action does not allow these same Asian American students to be thought of as whole people. We cannot expect individuals to be able to thrive in a system that forces people to ignore and stay silent about the impact of one’s race, ethnicity, gender, or national origin. Voters in California have an opportunity to allow Asian Americans to fully be themselves by voting yes on Prop 16 and ending the ban on affirmative action.
In recent polls that show how a majority of Asian Americans support affirmative action policies both nationally and in California, I find it surprising that there are those in the Asian American community, especially in the Chinese American community, that do not support Prop 16. This vocal minority of Asian Americans center their dissent against Prop 16 borne out of a complete misunderstanding of how affirmative action really works.
One common myth is that Asian Americans’ admission at the UC system would have to be cut or dramatically reduced in order to admit a more diverse student body. First, Asian American first year enrollment has always been at least 35% of the incoming class, even before affirmative action was banned. Also, if Asian American students are not able to be admitted in their first year, Asian Americans, specifically Chinese Americans, have some of the highest transfer rates to the UC system. Second, schools will NOT place a quota for certain groups in order to be admitted to the university. In institutions across the country that practice affirmative action, they are prohibited by the Supreme Court from using quotas in university admission.
In terms of higher education admission, Prop 16 allows for institutions to better direct resources to those who struggle in applying and being admitted to college. Whether that’s through outreach programs, fly-in visits, and targeted scholarship opportunities, it allows admissions offices to direct their resources to better serve all communities, especially the Asian American communities as well.
Currently, the UC system uses a holistic review process to evaluate students for admission. However, because of the current ban, they cannot consider the unique experiences that may impact the Asian American lived experience. COVID-19 has only highlighted what we all know that our experiences as Asian Americans are disparately impacted because of how much racism pervades our society. Prop 16 allows the UC system evaluators to consider Asian American experiences that can actually help more Asian Americans admit/enroll in the UC system. Schools that practice affirmative action and are able to consider how race, ethnicity, gender, and national origin informs an applicant have actually seen a rise in Asian American enrollment with these policies which disproves that affirmative action hurts Asian Americans. I worked at Northeastern University in Boston, which practices affirmative action, and I saw first hand that our Asian American student population increased every year that I was there.
The unequal attention on the UC system ignores that a large percentage of Asian American students in California actually attend community colleges. Asian Americans attending community college face unique challenges that are better addressed when resources and services can be directed to serve students. The ban on affirmative action had a chilling effect on the rest of California and prevented systems to use race and gender as factors in their programming. Prop 16 allows the community college system to direct resources towards those in the Asian American community with the most need such as English Language Learners, homeless, and undocumented students. By considering the needs of the community more directly without resulting in measures that may hit the impact of how faculty and administrators can contribute even better for Asian Americans who attend these colleges by allowing the schools to consider that more specific resources can be attributed.
As a parent, higher education does seem very far away, my more immediate concern is California’s K-12 education system. I’m shocked that in a state that is as diverse as California, in which 77% of students are students of color, the teacher workforce is only 35%. A diverse teacher corps benefits all students and allows students to be able to see themselves. A more diverse support staff allows my child to be able to be seen for the cultural complexity they bring to a classroom. Prop 16 allows public employment to set a goal of a more racially diverse faculty and staff in order to meet that challenge.
In addition to education, Asian Americans stand to benefit from Prop 16 through a better contracting service and helping address unemployment. It is estimated that over $1 billion are lost in awarded contracts to women and people of color owned businesses. Prop 16 will allow equally qualified Asian American owned businesses to now have a chance at competing with those contracts. COVID-19 has caused an almost 450% increase in unemployment in the Asian American community and 75% of Asian American-owned businesses that have applied for stimulus programs have little to or no chance of receiving funding. Prop 16 permits the state government to address this shocking statistic with more precision and resources to address this unemployment.
Social science research shows us Prop 16 does no harm and helps Asian Americans in higher education. A long list of endorsers from government officials, newspapers, celebrities, and corporations shows us that they too also support Prop 16. All of this is moot because it doesn’t mean more than the bigger reason why Asian Americans should support Prop 16. If this year has taught us anything, our participation as citizens of California and the United States is vitally important in showing our future that we care about justice and that we need to fight for what is right. Prop 16 is a tool that our public services can use to make sure that it truly serves all people. So far, after almost 25 years of a ban that has limited California in fully serving all, the evidence is clear that it has harmed all of California. Prop 16 will allow California to better serve communities that are continually left out. We need to be able to stand for that ideal above all else.
Douglas H. Lee is currently a Ph.D. student studying Higher Education Leadership at Colorado State University. He has worked with college students for nearly 15 years in various roles at Northeastern University, University of Utah Asia Campus, and the University of Maryland as well as with OCA in Washington, DC where he directed their college and youth programs. His current research interests examine Asian Americans and higher education as well as selective admissions. He lives in Fremont, CA with his partner and his child.
