But classification has its advantages. Without the institutionalization of racial classification, much valuable demographic information would be lost. Demographer Linda Jacobsen notes that absence of such classification "....provides less of a link to historical data on race and ethnicity, as well as providing a disadvantage, for example, to health researchers, who know that certain health conditions or health problems are linked to particular races, such as sickle cell anemia, for example (Not an 'Other.')." It is certain that some employment of classifications is for good.

Racial classification itself is not i

< http://www.stanford.edu/group/King/frequentdocs/address_at_march_on_washington.htm>.

Justice Wiener, in his decision on the Hopwood case states, "The Equal Protection Clause provides that '[n]o State shall...deny to any person within its jurisdiction the equal protection of the law...all racial classifications, imposed by whatever federal, state, or local governmental actor, must be analyzed by a reviewing court under strict scrutiny...' "racial classifications will survive strict scrutiny" 'only if they are narrowly tailored measures that further compelling governmental interests.' "Thus, strict scrutiny comprises two inquiries of equal valence: the 'compelling interest' inquiry and the 'narrow tailoring' inquiry (Judicial Review...)." In all practical applications of racial classification, the "narrow tailoring" and compelling interest" criterion is never met. In sum, the panel made a definitive judgement against the practice of racial classification as unconstitutional.

At the fundamental level labeling causes humans to note differences, creating an "us and they" mentality. Such manner of thinking breeds a comparative mood between individuals and groups. It was once said, "comparisons are odious things." For anyone that has worked with children will know this to be true from experience. It takes very little for children to form an exclusionary majority, usually on some trait that is perceived to be the commonality of the group. The first order of business of such committees is the torment of those children who do not fit the mold. If we as parents and future parents abstain from making racial classifications then there is a significant chance our children will follow suit, as children often do.

Rodriguez, Richard. "A Cultural Identity." 18 June 1997. Online News Hour. Essays and Dialogue. 28 Feb. 2000 .

In the practice of the three examples above, racial classification is necessary. In the case of Hopwood et al., versus the State of Texas et al., the constitutionality of racial classification is challenged. The plaintiffs claim they were discriminated against by the University of Texas School of Law and were not admitted on the basis of skin color. Under the Equal Protection Clause of the Fourteenth Amendment, racial classifications are unconstitutional and all individuals are due equal protection under the law, regardless of race (Judicial Review...)

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Interracial Voice, Identity Crisis, Charles Byrd, Protection Clause, Testing System, Linda Jacobsen, British-Americans Recently, Judicial Review, Cultural Identity, Individual Rights, racial classification, judicial review, racial classifications, et al, equal protection, et al versus, al versus, feb 2000, identity crisis, 1997 online, march 2000, versus texas et, equal protection clause, al versus texas, texas et al,
Approximate Word count = 1655
Approximate Pages = 7 (250 words per page double spaced)