Even rules and even scoring is only fair when all participants are equally equipped and prepared. It's common in sports such as golf and bowling to assign an advantage, known as a handicap, to less skillful players in an attempt to even out the competition. No one seems to think this practice is unfair.

In the case of university admisions, the disadvantage is often the result of economic discrimination that may be racially motivated but isn't just racial. Dr. King understood that discrimination is economic. If you live in poor neighborhoods where property values are lower, your public schools aren't as well funded. If your parents are both working two part time jobs just to keep you fed, you might have too much unsupervised time on your hands.

We aren't going to fight poverty by telling laid-off workers they'd better find some way to earn their keep … they'll find a way but you may not like it. On the other hand, if we give disadvantaged kids a handicap such as affirmative action, and get them into universities, we may see the day when their own children no longer need the handicap.

      - Mark