Director of the American Identity Project at the Progressive Policy Institute, Richard Kahlenberg provided groundbreaking testimony that played a pivotal role in persuading the Supreme Court to strike down racial affirmative action, dismaying – and outraging – his own progressive circle. Yet, his conviction that economic disadvantage provides a better, more fair way to achieve diversity is unwavering.
In his new book, “Class Matters: The Fight to Get Beyond Race Preferences, Reduce Inequality, and Build Real Diversity at America’s Colleges,” Professor Kahlenberg makes the definitive case for adopting a class-based approach to college admissions, giving more people a place at the table and more opportunity to “swim in the river of power.” He includes an analysis of the preliminary admission results following the Supreme Court’s ruling, which indicate that colleges can achieve racial and economic diversity without explicit racial preferences.
Professor Kahlenberg presented the case of Class Matters at this special event of Princeton University’s James Madison Program, co-presented with the new Spirited Debate Initiative of the University of Pennsylvania’s Program for Research on Religion and Urban Civil Society (PRRUCS). Kahlenberg’s opening remarks were followed by comments from Professor Marta Tienda (Princeton University) and Professor John McWhorter (Columbia University and New York Times). The conversation was moderated by Professor Robert P. George, Faculty Director of the James Madison Program.
