Good Question: Was Bake Sale Racist?

By Christy Strawser
CBS Detroit Managing Editor
No one was injured, and all 300 cupcakes were sold during a student Republicans bake sale this week at the University of California, Berkeley, where customers paid different prices based on race.

During the sale, baked goods were sold to white men for $2, Asian men for $1.50, Latino men for $1, black men for 75 cents and Native American men for 25 cents. All women were given a .25 cent discount, according to the Associated Press.

Meant as a demonstration against affirmative action, the sale was named the "Increase Diversity Bake Sale." Specifically, it was aimed at protesting legislation that would allow public universities in California to consider race and other factors in student admissions.

"Measuring any admit's merit based on race is intrinsically racist," according to the event posting on Facebook. "The purpose of the event is to offer another view to this policy of considering race in university admissions."

It raised eyebrows in some quarters, and drew support from others.

Grand Rapids-based conservative blogger Christopher James, of http://www.thefreakingtruth.com/, supported the effort, telling CBS Detroit, "I think the bake sale is a creative way for Republicans to present their views on affirmative action. It makes those in favor of affirmative action confront the logical ends of affirmative action.

"If those in favor of affirmative action feel uncomfortable with the bake sale, then it shows the Republican club proved their point."

Joey Freeman, a spokesman for the student body association, told the Associated Press that campus Republicans had the right to organize against the legislation. But he said he didn't agree with the tactics.

"It is very offensive to many communities on campus," Freeman said in an AP report. "We try to promote a healthy campus climate. Events like this bake sale get in the way of respect for one another."

Do you agree -- or did the sale go too far?