Hidden under the political radar screen, and nowhere to be found on media line-up sheets, striking down affirmative action in five states is the “quiet issue” in the coming election that will have a major impact for years to come.

Voters have already struck down affirmative action in California, Michigan, and Washington; ending gender and racial preference in state employment, education policies, housing, and awarding state contracts. With the Supreme Court’s recent rejection of preferences in school admissions, there is a quiet momentum that may soon bring about the death of forced diversity in America. An organization called the American Civil Rights Institute is leading the effort to enact state constitutional amendments in Colorado, Arizona, Missouri, Oklahoma, and Nebraska banning affirmative action policies.

Proponents of affirmative action, like the Leadership Conference on Civil Rights, are building their own information campaign to inform voters that affirmation is still a valid way to insure equal opportunity and diversity. The argument remains that qualified minorities will remain on the outside looking in unless there is a mechanism by which they are given an opportunity. This mechanism has been affirmative action which has led to reverse discrimination lawsuits and a political and community backlash by whites who say affirmative action is nothing more than an unfair quota system designed to make up for years of legal discrimination in the workplace, school system and job market.

There is the thought that affirmative action only strengthens the idea that Blacks and other minorities can’t compete unless they are given a hand out in the form of initiatives like affirmative action and race based preferences. There is also the thought that qualified Blacks and minorities will have the stigma of “Affirmative Action” attached to them when they in no way needed a hand out to get where they are and accomplish all they have accomplished.

Arguments on both sides of the affirmative action fence are valid. If companies, organizations, and state and local governments would do the right thing in the first place, there would be no need for affirmative action; but they didn’t and they won’t do the right thing so there is a need for something to make sure fairness is at the forefront of employment, government contract and education policies.

Is that something affirmative action? My guess is no; because voters, mainly white voters, see so much of America slipping through their fingers, I believe they will support anything that keeps them in control of what they can and do control.
Everything in life is becoming a greater and greater struggle and doing the right thing cannot be legislated, not for us… not for anybody.

Say It Loud!