I mentioned that the Asian culture enforces a strong culture of education. I wish that we all took it as seriously. Did you see that?

Unfortunately, we know that many black students have great abilities but do not have access to the resources that some other groups have. There are many different qualities that equal "merit,"and Americans are more than aware of (and ashamed) of the measures they have taken, and continue to take, to ensure that some populations lack the resources and opportunities that others enjoy. My hope is that schools will look at the entire individual so that they craft student bodies that learn from the experiences of those who are different. That is not "diversity for diversity's sake."

Yes, blacks definitely decreased as students at UC Berkeley, however, if you look at recent statistics, you will find that after depressed numbers, the percentage of black students has begun to rise.

Is there anything else you would like to tell me? All of the folks who insist on "merit" really seem to want to discount the advantages some have that others do not. That is not meritocracy. That is racism, elitism, and a dangerous hypocrisy that keeps individuals from achieving at their highest levels and robs the greater society of the benefit of their skills. We do not know what talents we have wasted. That includes those of women, whose talents were often suppressed before Affirmative Action and who STILL continue to be the group which benefits most.