In Regents of the U.C. v. Bakke, the Supreme Court held that race was a permissible factor when considering admissions to achieve a diverse student body. The admissions process has never been purely merit based, especially before affirmative action programs were started in the 1960's. Ivy league schools and other institutions have always had their own form of affirmative action based on deep pockets and alumni connections. Despite the ruling in Bakke, and the opinions of the majority of U.C. students, faculty, and 9 chancellors, the U.C. Board of Regents voted to eliminate affirmative action in admissions and faculty hiring. The Glass Ceiling Commission found that there was still great disparity between the numbers of management positions held by women and minorities versus white males.
Race still matters, it always has.
Right now, the Asian American community is being used as a wedge group, manipulated as poster children for white conservatives using our case to undo affirmative action.