Action Alert
The Battle over Prop. 209 is not Over!
The results of one semester without affirmative action at University
of California campuses demonstrate that the pundits were wrong. They
thought somehow white males were being discrimited against.
Yet, admissions of minorities has fallen dramatically!
Why was affirmative action created?
Affirmative action was created by the courts in response to the
failure of our society to live up to equal rights legislation. They
recognized that without a deliberate effort to bring minorities into the
mainstream, it was not going to happen by itself. Therefore, they
created "affirmative" action. That is, taking deliberate, directed
efforts to hire/admit people of color and women into the workforce and
schools.
De facto discrimination
The courts wanted public institutions to reflect the community.
That is, the percentage of whites, blacks, latinos, asians, men, women
etc. in an institution should reflect the proportions of that group within
the community. Failure is de facto discrimition against those
groups who are not represented.
And, today?
The language of Prop.209 suggests that there should be no discrimination,
preference or quotas. Yet, if the public institutions do not reflect
the faces of the community, I maintain that there is de facto discrimination!
And, therefore, why not challenge these institutions using Prop. 209 as
the basis? There is de facto preference given to white males.
Just look at the results! Isn't this against the law? And,
isn't this why the courts created affirmative action to begin with?
Maybe I am too simple.
Links
Stop Prop. 209 Campaign
Freedom Fall '96
| Resources for Progressives |
last updated 25-sep-97