Fight or Flight
Ted Shaw and other diversity proponents retool while Ward Connerly gloats. This entry was posted on Thursday, August 23rd, 2007 at 1:49 am and is filed under Diverse Online Stories. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.
August 23rd, 2007 at 12:48 pm
“If we work on all of the problems that the African-American family unit faces, we won’t need affirmative action anymore.”
Couldn’t agree more. So why doesn’t the NAACP and ACLU put it’s resources into family building programs instead of defending affirmative action? Fundraising. No one wants to donate money to organizations that are focused on families and the NAACP is hurting for money.
Connerly keeps winning because the majority of people don’t want affirmative action. ONEUnited Michigan spent a lot of money trying to convince the citizens of Michigan that affirmative action is good but Prop 2 still passed. The issue isn’t the funding or prestige of the proponents of affirmative action, people just don’t want racial preferences to be in place.
August 23rd, 2007 at 7:12 pm
I read the article in DIVERSE ONLINE with great interest.
Calling the NAACP “the parent” of the NAACP Legal Defense Fund misstates the relationship between the two organizations; there is none. The NAACP founded the LDF; the LDF then became independent. Each is independent of the other and each makes its own decisions about what it does, although there is frequent and productive collaboration.
Stating the NAACP LDF is the only organization fighting Ward Connerly is also a huge misstatement – the NAACP fought him in California and Washington State and in Michigan – and we have laid plans to fight him elsewhere.
The Leadership Conference on Civil Rights has been strategizing against Connerly since he announced his forays into these new states – this is the coalition organization of most civil rights activity (also founded by the NAACP).
Connerly’s activity poses a real challenge for the civil rights community and all Americans who believe in fairness – but it simply wrong to write that the civil rights community is ignoring him.
Julian Bond
NAACP Board Chairman
August 25th, 2007 at 11:46 pm
Once again the efforts of Mr. Connerly has proven most effectively as noted in the comment by one of your readers who dared to quote the nefarious: “If we all work on the problems faced bythe African American Family . . .” If this reader and followers of anti-affirmative action programs were truly on the cutting edge of truth as opposed to pathetically diluting the truth about American thought, then an honest dialogue could take place. How could honesty be in the forefront when it is apparent this reader, Mr. Connerly, Mrs. Chavez and their supporters have not even read the famed “Moynihan Report” (the report which was never to be published orginally) which even they admitted skewed statistical data, for which the late American Intellectual and others who followed his thinking could not renege because they had made so much information being given. The picture of Mr. Connerly on your cover reminds me of those I saw growing up in the South - like Bull, George, and others who looked so confident following their encounter with proponents of the Civil Rights March - the Deacons for Defense and Justice went against the most ruthless group who also declared belief in the American Dream as himself. Mr. Ward and his followers should remember, the rooster still comes home to roost, and whatever is meant for evil, the Creator will make good. I believe just as the State of MO Atty General declared the truth, so will other people dare to think outside the proverbial box of “American Idoltary” to a a Dream which still owes the “bounced check” to the Bank of Justice! We shall overcome, because truth will prevail, slowly but surely. Even the wicked and mislearned must receive the knowledge which only comes when people pull blinders from their eyes and no longer call “just us” “justice!”
August 26th, 2007 at 1:10 am
re: “Fight or Flight” - the author says that he believes that every organization except for the NAACP LDF has resigned itself to defeat when it comes to fighting for affirmative action. I suggest that the author, as well as any other interested individuals, turn his attention to BAMN - By Any Means Necessary. As a national organizer for BAMN, I can personally attest to the fact that BAMN has been aggressively and creatively fighting to defend affirmative action across the country since 1995. Since BAMN is mainly a youth organization (in terms of its membership and leadership) and is considered radical and militant in its tactics, the mainstream press and civil rights establishment always seem to overlook [how convenient] the crucial role we have played in this debate over the past decade. BAMN served as co-defendant intervenor in Grutter v. Bollinger - representing the young black, Latino and Native American students of America who were impacted by that decision. In fact, BAMN presented the vast majority of testimony during the Federal District Court bench trial in Grutter.
BAMN continues to fight to nullify Proposal 2 in Michigan as well as defeat Connerly everywhere he decides to raise his ugly and divisive head.
I urge the author of this article to check out BAMN.com to see where the true grassroots, frontline fighters for equality and integration are at.
Thanks,
Adam Lerman, BAMN Los Angeles
August 29th, 2007 at 12:06 am
Shaw is correct in stating that “we” are not ready to concede defeat; however, what is stated elsewhere in the article is also true, and that is- those right wing groups, lead by Connerly, that are opposing affirmative action: 1) have the major podium to speak from, 2) the funding to support their actions, 3) the support from government agencies such as the Department of Justice, the Office of Civil Rights, not to mention the current Administration, and 4) unfortunately the support from a large portion of the country! Those of us opposing these actions, whether it be the NAACP, BAMN, etc. just do not have those factors needed to defeat these groups, especially the financial support and visibility. Plus, even though there are several groups that are leading those actions, they are doing so in unity. We certainly do not have that. So, perhaps it is time for a real movement to unite as it is most disturbing to see the loss of programs that many of us have worked so hard to establish as a means for “leveling the playing field”. We are far from that and if the current trend continues without some intervention, not only will the playing field remain unlevel but eventually will no longer even be available to those struggling for equality. The real question is “who will lead the unity movement?”
August 29th, 2007 at 2:08 pm
Thomas, you grossly misstate the strengths of Connerly’s movement. I’ll break them down in detail for you.
1. What “major podium” does Ward Connerly have at his disposal? The NAACP and it’s cronies have the attention of the media but they waste it defending the Jena 6 and Michael Vick.
2. Connerly and associates have a few benefactors, albeit wealthy ones, but not nearly as many as his opponents. ONEUnited Michigan’s campaign against Prop 2 had far more funding and was able to garner more free publicity both in Michigan and nationally.
3. You forgot to add the Supreme Court to the current administration, DoJ and OCR. Interesting how government entities that have been for affirmative action are now opposing it. AA violates equal protection, maybe they just figured it out.
4. The government is supposed to enact the will of the people. All evidence points to the fact the Americans don’t want AA. Connerly and his friends are the only people willing to stand up for the will of the majority.
On a side note, honest Americans won’t support BAMN. It’s a youth movement because it’s arguments are too weak for anyone other than highly impressionable young people who are either so indoctorinated in the victim mentality or immature students who easily persuaded. The name By Any Means Necessary screams low ethics and integrity. It’s not a new civil rights movement, it’s a scab of the old one.
September 4th, 2007 at 3:58 am
I’m most interested in connecting with the institutions and organizations in my home state, Arizona, that are preparing to meet the American Civil Rights Institute’s challenge in 2008. I’m a community volunteer and Black law student in Tucson, AZ. And I would like to help diversity proponents in Southern Arizona prepare for the contest. If there are points of contact for organizations that are gearing up in Arizona, I request their contact information. Please send their contact information to me via my blog’s contact form:
http://www.maxambit.com/blog/contact/
Respectfully,
E.C. Hopkins
September 15th, 2007 at 10:58 am
IT TRULY OBVIOUS AND MAKES THE MOST COMMON OF SENSE THAT WHEN YOU HAVE YEARS OF MENTAL, EMOTIONAL AND SPIRITUAL DISINTERGRATION OF A PEOPLE IT IS GOING TO TAKE AT LEAST HALF THAT AMOUNT OF TIME TO REDUCATE, RESTRUCTURE AND REGROUP THE COLLECTIVE MIND, EMOTIONAL AND SPIRITUAL FABRIC OF THAT SAME PEOPLE. THE DESTRUCTION AND DISENFRANCHISEMENT OF THE AFRICAN-AMERICAN COMMUNITY HAS BEEN SOCIALIZED AND INSTITUTIONALIZED FOR GENERATIONS. THIS IS A GENERATIONAL THING. IT IS A GOD GIVEN PRINCIPLE AND SPIRITUAL LAW THAT EVERYTHING REPRODUCES AFTER ITS OWN KIND. IT MANIFESTED THROUGH SCIENTIFIC PROOF OF THE REALITY…..AND YOU KNOW WHAT IT IS - WHAT IT IS. IF THE DESCENDANTS OF SLAVES WHO WERE SYSTEMATICALLY BREEDED LIKE AS CATTLE; TOTAL DESTRUCTION OF THE IMPORTANCE, STATURE AND SIGNIFICANCE OF THE AFRICAN-AMERICAN MALE AND THE COMMON LAW PRACTICE AND IMAGE OF THE AFRICAN-AMERICAN WOMAN AS AN UNRIEGNABLE “WILD” BABY MACHINE
WHO MUST DEPEND AND FORCED TO DEPEND ON A SUBSIDIZED ALMOST SHARECROPPING SOCIAL SYSYTEM AND NOT ON THEIR MEN HAS EXISTED FOR GENERATIONS WE ARE NOT GOING TO SEE A CHANGE OVERNIGHT. CIVIL RIGHTS WERE IMPLEMENTED JUST IN EYEBLINK OF TIME AWAY. ITS GOING TO TAKE A CONTINUED DEDICATED EFFORT AND YES IT WILL HAVE TO BE IN PLACE WHICH TRUE “WATCHDOG” REGULATIONS AND MEASURES OF FUNDING AND SUPPORT. A NEW SOCIAL “NEW DEAL” WITH SUBSTANCE WHICH WILL BENEFIT ALL AMERICANS AS A WHOLE. “NO” THE EDUCATION IS NOT EQUAL ACROSS THE BOARD AT THE PRIMARY SCHOOL LEVEL. UNTIL THAT IS FIXED THERE SHOULD CONTINUE AFFIRMATIVE ACTION. START FROM “GROUND ZERO”. AND WE WONDER WHY THE STUDENTS OF OTHER COUNTRIES CAN OUTDO US IN MATHEMATICS AND SCIENCE. WHERE IS THE REAL EMPHASIS OF THE GENERATIONAL POWERS THAT RUN THIS GREAT REPUBLIC ? ADDRESSING THE PROBLEMS IN THE ARICAN-COMMUNITY ARE MANIFOLD BUT NOT IMPOSSIBLE. WE MUST THINK AND SET GENERATIONAL GOALS AND ADDRESS AND INVEST FOR THE LONG TERM.
LOOK AT THE EDUCATIONAL, HEALTH, FINANCIAL AND SOCIAL INVESTMENT THAT PUT TWARDS THE COMMONWEALTH OF PUERTO RICO. IN TWO GENERATIONS PUERTO RICANS ENJOY THE FRUITS OF DEEP GOVERNMENTAL, CORPORATIONAL SUBSIDIZED INVESTMENT. IT IS NOT INVESTMENT ( AS A WHOLE). IMAGINE IF THAT SAME CONCERTED EFFORT WAS PUT TWARDS THE AFRICAN-AMERICAN MALE SINCE RECONSTRUCTION AFTER THE CIVIL WAR !!?? NO. THE SO CALLED RECONSTRUCTION PERIOD WAS REALLY 100 DEDICATED YEARS OF DOMESTIC TERRORISM FOR LIVING AND TRYING TO BE BY GOD’S UNBAISED DIVINE RIGHT TO BE WHAT GOD HAS CALLED US TO BE.
IF THAT WAS NOT THE CASE THEN WHY WAS THERE THE NEED FOR CIVIL RIGHTS LAWS AND MOVEMENT. I UNDERSTAND THAT FOLKS OF PRESENT DAY DO NOT WANT TO PAY FOR THE MISTAKES OF THEIR FOREFATHERS BUT TOUGH. IF NOT ADDRESSED THEN THE SITUATION WILL NOT END AND ONLY INCREASE. WHEN TAXES NOT PAYED, WALL STREET SCANDALS, ENRON SITUATIONS WHO PAYS……EVERYBODY DOES IN THE END ANYWAY. SO THERE YOU HAVE IT
September 17th, 2007 at 8:05 pm
“LOOK AT THE EDUCATIONAL, HEALTH, FINANCIAL AND SOCIAL INVESTMENT THAT PUT TWARDS THE COMMONWEALTH OF PUERTO RICO. IN TWO GENERATIONS PUERTO RICANS ENJOY THE FRUITS OF DEEP GOVERNMENTAL, CORPORATIONAL SUBSIDIZED INVESTMENT. IT IS NOT INVESTMENT ( AS A WHOLE). IMAGINE IF THAT SAME CONCERTED EFFORT WAS PUT TWARDS THE AFRICAN-AMERICAN MALE SINCE RECONSTRUCTION AFTER THE CIVIL WAR !!??”
Writing in all caps is classy. Wow, imagine if African American males had been handed life on a platter for 200 years. Not that hard to imagine given the aggressife welfare, affirmative action, inner-city and educational programs all aimed at African Americans for the last 40 years.
“THE DESTRUCTION AND DISENFRANCHISEMENT OF THE AFRICAN-AMERICAN COMMUNITY HAS BEEN SOCIALIZED AND INSTITUTIONALIZED FOR GENERATIONS.”
Well, at least we agree that the African American community is the one perpetuating its own problems. So what is the solution? Dropping the victim mentality and working for individual successes. The US is a nation of immigrants who came here looking to escape oppression be it religious, social or racial. Everyone who comes to the country is another country’s damaged goods so crying victim is futile. The excuses for underperformance have lost their effect and reparations in excess of welfare and affirmative action will not be paid so people need to either accept that they will stay where they are at or find a way to fix their own problems.