ABSTRACT
The contentious debate over affirmative action is, in part, because of the insidious nature of White supremacy and patriarchal hegemony, and the unwillingness to correct historical discrimination on the part of those subscribing to these ideologies. American institutions have been coconspirators in the clever cover-up and continuous denial and justification of White property rights, which resulted in centuries of civil rights violations. The discussion in chapters 1 and 2 illuminate how the 14th Amendment was not truly enforced, consequently making Executive Order No. 11246 (1965), also know as affirmative action, necessary. This chapter endeavors to frame the necessity of affirmative action in addressing issues of access and equity in higher education with regard to social and cultural capital.
