Ward Connerly

Affirmative action talk grows heated

By: Joshua Seiden

Posted: 10/22/07

When Ward Connerly enters a room, one can expect spirited discourse and possibly some flaring tempers.

"Without question, racial discrimination and slavery and Jim Crow were wrong, but you can't unring the bell," he told the University News during a recent visit to UMKC. "You can't go back and say that 'for what was done to my great, great grandfather, I should get preferential treatment over some Asian person or white or whatever.'"

Connerly, who is black, is a long-time opponent of race- and gender-based preferences in education and employment, spoke in Royall Hall Oct. 18. Connerly founded the American Civil Rights Institute, whose motto is "Race has no place in American life or law."

In keeping with his organization's credo, Connerly is visiting various states to campaign for legislation that would eliminate any sort of racial, ethnic and gender related preferences in both schools and work places. The issue could reach Missouri ballots in November 2008.

Before addressing the audience, Connerly spoke to the U-News. He aimed to clarify his views on affirmative action, embracing some aspects while opposing others.

"Affirmative action is not a term of art. It comes in many forms," Connerly said. "There are affirmative action programs that simply guarantee that no one will be discriminated against. In that one, I think everybody wins."

He also praised efforts to enhance community involvement.

"There are affirmative action programs that simply provide outreach," he said. "Nobody loses from that, and those that are targeted benefit from it. Society also benefits from that."

Connerly asserted his stance on programs based on preferences.

"The kind of affirmative action programs to which I object and at which our initiative is directed are those programs that involve contracts that are set aside and minority preference points in the bidding of contracts," he said. "Different standards for college admissions; different standards for employment. Those are the kind of programs that involve, quote, preferential treatment and are the ones that are targeted for elimination. In that instance, I think that it is very difficult to say who benefits and who loses."

Affirmative action can even harm those it aims to help, according to Connerly.

"Justice [Clarence] Thomas, for example, says that even when he was targeted as a beneficiary he was stigmatized by this," he said. "I understand that and have seen it myself."

Connerly offered suggestions as to how affirmative action programs can be improved.

"I think that the fair and equitable way is, first of all, eliminate any preferences based on race or gender or ethnic background," he said. "But, I think we should go and look at socioeconomic kinds of things. Someone who has never had a parent go to college; that individual has a greater obstacle than someone whose parents have gone to college."

Some government intervention can be good for society, Connerly said.

"I favor socioeconomic affirmative action," he said. "I think the government should be helping those that need help. But, we should not say and we cannot say anymore, with the growing black middle class, that just because your skin is brown you automatically need help and therefore you should be targeted for some sort of, quote, affirmative action of the preferential variety."

Connerly cited the ambiguity of race as a reason why racial preferences do not work.

"With more people marrying across lines of race, the lines are getting more blurred and it's more difficult to demonstrate who you are," he said. "There's no membership card you can bring in that says 'I'm an authentic black.'"

Not everyone on hand agreed with Connerly.

Shariece L. Canady, vice president of the Black Law Students Association, said she believes affirmative action is necessary in higher education. Once admitted, students still have to perform well academically, Canady said.

"The students are going to have to prove themselves," she said. "If they can't make the cut, then they aren't going to be there very long anyway."

Before Connerly addressed the crowd, several audience members distributed fliers opposing legislation that would end affirmative action programs.

Throughout Connerly's brief lecture, audience members were vocal in their objection to his views. When he opened the floor to questions, several terse exchanges ensued.

Kimiko Gilmore said she was insulted by Connerly's initiatives.

"You're coming here, and you are making a mockery of the history of African-American people … you're making a mockery of my history," she said. "Just because you had success in Washington state, just because you had success in Michigan, you are not going to have success in Missouri. This is the 'show me' state."

Connerly replied, "That's what they said in Washington, that's what they said in Michigan."

The School of Law's student Federalist Society brought Connerly to campus.

"I was hoping that more people would have turned out for this event," said Wesley Carrillo, Federalist Society. "However, I was glad that the student associations and organizations were so well represented and very prepared for a discussion on the topic. It is important that our generation get involved with the matters that will have a direct impact on us as individuals and our communities."

Student Government Association Comptroller DaRon McGee said Connerly's initiatives show hypocrisy.

"I see a man who's benefited from affirmative action. Once he's taken the ladder to the top, he's pulling it away from others," McGee said. "Affirmative action is not meant to give anyone a step up, it's meant to create an even playing field."

jseiden@unews.com