Ward Connerly
“We have overcome the scourge of race,” says Ward Connerly, African-American founder and chairman of the American Civil Rights Institution. Connerly is a well-known anti-affirmative action activist who was more than delighted at the achievement of ballot initiatives for Nebraska and Colorado to “ban discrimination against or granting preferential treatment to people based on race, ethnicity, color, sex, or national origin”. Unfortunately for him and other anti-affirmative activists, the measures did not pass in Colorado, though they went through in Nebraska with 58% of the vote. >>>Click here for full article
7 Comments
November 7, 2008 at 2:48 am
Personally, I think people are jumping the gun to assume that because Obama is President Elect that we have no need for affirmative action. First, consider this, Obama has a unique family history. Specifically, if we consider his appearance is black because of his father. But his fathers story is one of a free priveleged African man coming to the USA to study, and to eventually study at Harvard. And he was raised primarily with the values of his mother, grandmother and grandfather. So this suggests his internal thinking is guided by values and beliefs of middle class caucasian americans. He is by no means representative of black men who carry a legacy that began with ancestors coming here as slaves.
As for affirmative action or class based action, the result will still include a great number of African Americans. To me once you have benefitted enough from affirmative action, its time to let others have a chance to advance themselves.
November 7, 2008 at 5:00 pm
*big sigh* When are people going to stop talking about Affirmative Action like it’s “A Black Thing”. AA covers:
“American Indian or Alaskan Native, Asian or Pacific Islander, Black, and Hispanic” people, as well as women, persons with disabilities, and veterans. AA may now also include people over 40.
We need AA in place until discrimination in recruiting and hiring practices are fair and unbiased.
November 7, 2008 at 6:49 pm
I agree with both of you. As I mentioned in my article, even Obama admits that class seems to be more of a factor, as opposed to race. And Nomi, you have made an excellent point when you say that Affirmative Action is NOT only for black citizens but also for other races, disabled individuals, veterans, and women. If we rid ourselves of the laws which encourage businesses to hire a diverse team of citizens, we will rid ourselves of the need for hiring those who are not just discriminated against due to racial orientation, but disabled individuals and women as well. We might be making a great deal of progress as a nation, but I doubt it would benefit us at this point in history to eliminate Affirmative Action, simply because an African-American has won the presidency. There are a lot of different groups out there who currently still need representation, and, black President or not, it still includes African-Americans as well as many others.
November 8, 2008 at 2:39 am
I have to say, I didn’t read the first comment before…
He said: “First, consider this, Obama has a unique family history. Specifically, if we consider his appearance is black because of his father. But his fathers story is one of a free priveleged African man coming to the USA to study, and to eventually study at Harvard. And he was raised primarily with the values of his mother, grandmother and grandfather. So this suggests his internal thinking is guided by values and beliefs of middle class caucasian americans. He is by no means representative of black men who carry a legacy that began with ancestors coming here as slaves.”
I agree with this statement – at least, to a degree. He definitely has not lived the life of a typical Black man in America. Or so, I don’t think he has. However, the world seesBi-racial people…even those raised with very mainstream, White values (like Obama and myself) as Black, and we are treated as such. That means we are subjected to racial crap – to include employment discrimination. So, in that respect, he is representative of “The Black Man”.
I wrote a blog clarifying AA and I hope you will take the time to read it – or to at least go to the Dept of Labor web site and get some current information about Affirmative Action. I say this because your statement “To me once you have benefitted enough from affirmative action, its time to let others have a chance to advance themselves.” indicates to me you don’t understand how AA works. AA requires efforts to recruit and include certain groups in the hiring (and advancement) process, but it does not require that those groups be hired or advanced. If AA required – for example – Black people to be hired over White people, I wouldn’t have been turned down for 3 jobs in 3 months in the same agency…and I was working there and qualified. 3 white (blond/blue – and all so petite and cute) women got the jobs. AA works? Yes…they got me to apply, didn’t they? That’s all they had to do…
November 8, 2008 at 2:42 am
Oops.. hit “submit” too soon!
“We might be making a great deal of progress as a nation, but I doubt it would benefit us at this point in history to eliminate Affirmative Action, simply because an African-American has won the presidency. There are a lot of different groups out there who currently still need representation, and, black President or not, it still includes African-Americans as well as many others.”
Well said!!! I agree whole-heartedly!
November 8, 2008 at 7:18 pm
Nomi-thanks for the AA clarification. I really don’t know the nuts and bolts of it. I agree with your statement, “we need AA in place until discrimination in recruiting and hiring practices are fair and unbiased.”
As for the topic of bi-racial and multi-racial, I think that is a work in progress in this country. From my understanding the “one drop rule” has as much to do with these out dated concepts as anything.
Perhaps Obamas own multiracial experience will sensitize him to issues such as how to identify oneself for a census or on forms in schools.
November 9, 2008 at 7:08 pm
4wrdthnkndad, thank you so much for going ahead and reading my blog!
I’m not trying to say I’m right and your wrong; I just want people to made decisions (base opinions) on fact, even if they don’t agree with mine. *smile*
And I think you are right about the “one-drop” rule…which is still being stated as a federal rule by some (!!!). I kid you not, just the other day I read in a blog where someone said that Obama is Black because of the the one-drop rule. Oh my…my, my…how can people be that far behind the times???
Anyway, thanks for the feedback and discussion!