Thursday, April 4, 1996
Regent Connerly defends ‘equality’ as minorities suffer
Until now, I’ve kept my mouth closed. I’ve decided to let others
wage this war. I’ve kept myself from being drawn into this debate,
because I knew it would arouse my innermost passions and unleash my
anger. I wanted to let others be on the front line in the battle to
defend affirmative action, because how could I restrain myself in
the face of ignorant people who insist that affirmative action is
"reverse discrimination?"
I refused to admit that America has fallen so far. I couldn’t
come to terms with the fact that there is so much pervasive racism
and hostility toward minorities in this country that even a black
man himself could fall prey to white supremacy. (Yes, I’m speaking
of the uncle himself, Ward Connerly, a UC Board of Regents
member.)
I can’t believe that so many people target affirmative action as
"unfair." These people know nothing of fairness. Their pale skin
has cloaked them in a shroud of invincibility. They’re invincible
to racism, discrimination and supremacy, because they run the
system.
But, oh no. Let folks think that a minority has "taken their
place" at an institution such as UCLA, and they want to have a fit.
They want to rant and rave that if we’re all created equal, we must
all be treated as equal. Go ahead, throw the Constitution in our
faces.
Even though our country pays no more attention to the
Constitution than they would to Toucan Sam, all of a sudden it’s
the great equalizer. Forgetting that this same document made blacks
three-fifths of a person. Forgetting that many of those who signed
this "great equalizer" owned slaves. But it wouldn’t be so bad if
everyone was indeed created equal.
Now I find out that the rich and powerful are hustling and
buying their way into UCLA. Ask me how many of these folks are
minorities. Uhh … I don’t think you want to know.
Imagine my dismay when I read in the Los Angeles Times that
certain "would-be students were flagged as ‘special interest
applicants’ by the admissions office and their names put on special
computer runs for careful and personal monitoring by Admissions
Director Rae Lee Siporin."
Even though a UCLA development official noted that a certain
young lady had a low GPA and low SAT scores, she "was admitted
ahead of more than 4,000 (other) students with better grades and
SAT scores," according to the March 21 Los Angeles Times story
("UCLA eased entry rules for the rich, well-connected"). Maybe the
reason was, as the development official wrote, "Her father just
sold Miller’s Outpost  major donor prospect." Hmm … it
makes ya think doesn’t it?
I personally don’t have a problem with these preferential
practices. Although it has been documented that Chancellor Charles
Young played a major role in letting some of these rich and
powerful students in, I’m not angry at him. Because Chancellor
Young is for affirmative action. He’s been a staunch supporter. I
can’t lambaste a man who encourages diversity and believes that our
learning institution shouldn’t mimic the Board of Regents, which
makes our policies.
Yes, Young has done some questionable things (remember the
Chicano studies fiasco), but he’s not the issue. The issue is that
for every time something is snatched away from minorities, the
races in power end up somehow benefiting. You know why? Because the
system is geared to suppress and oppress disadvantaged minorities,
and at the same time, it’s meant to further the goals and dreams of
the rich, powerful and pale.
Sometimes a black man does slip through the cracks. Sometimes a
black man gains fortune and fame without bouncing a basketball or
singing a song. Sometimes a black man can face the almost
insurmountable odds and win.
And sometimes the black man is Ward Connerly  A bona fide
house Negro. The kind that Malcolm X talked about. If the massa’s
house was on fire he’d shout, "Massa, our house is on fire!" The
field Negro would laugh as it burned to the ground.
Well, this black man, who I’m ashamed to call black, has brought
disgrace to the black community. He’s made a mockery of all we hold
dear and important. He asked Republicans to join him in staging,
"our own Million Man March" to gather signatures from those who
want to ban racial preferences in California. He’s a man who has
benefitted from having his nose shoved up Pete Wilson’s behind …
but he wants to tell me that affirmative action is unfair.
Connerly, who has disillusioned himself into thinking he is
white, resents being labeled black or African American. However,
Connerly identified himself as a minority contractor to hold onto a
$1.1 million contract he won from the California Energy Commission.
See, this is the stuff I’m talking about. People want to further
their own selfish agendas, but when the needs of others who are
struggling to succeed in life are at stake, all of a sudden,
equality won’t let them help you.
Connerly told his fellow Board of Regents members, "The desire
to promote racial diversity is such a part of the university
culture that they will continue to find ways to achieve their
objectives unless the Board of Regents makes our policy to the
contrary very clear." And I must ask, what is so wrong with
preserving racial diversity?
What is wrong with ensuring that students leave UCLA with a real
education? An education far beyond what an English or math major
can teach. I’m talking about an education in Life 101, where
aspects of the real world are presented, where students are
required to interact on a daily basis with students from every race
and ethnicity.
Isn’t it bad enough that nearly 68 percent of UCLA
undergraduates are white or Asian? Give somebody a break. It’s a
shame that 500 years of oppression has come down to this. From
Columbus to Connerly, from George Washington to Pete Wilson Â
the picture never changes.
I see innovators try to stop the never-ending flow of oppression
that leaks from America’s racist spigot. But does it do any good?
Here we are again. Back at square one. We’re trying to convince
everybody that the playing field is not level. If it was, we
wouldn’t care if affirmative action was abolished.
I’m tired of trying to prove that this country is still racist
and unforgiving. Look around you. See where most minorities live.
See where the white folks live. See how many white CEOs there are
in Fortune 500 companies. See how many Chicano CEOs you see. Does
it have anything to do with ability? No. But it has everything to
do with preserving the current power structure.
The likes of Ward Connerly have turned their backs on the people
who need them most, and they’ve chosen to assimilate at all costs.
Personally, I couldn’t sleep with myself if I did that. But
everybody doesn’t love their people like I do.
Promoting ethnic diversity is a good thing. With no parameters
to ensure the proper treatment of minorities and women, America
will end up reliving the 1950s and ’60s all over again. Isn’t it
bad enough that Native Americans are so marginalized that they stay
on overcrowded, destitute reservations? Isn’t it bad enough that
there are more African Americans in prison than in college,
although the arrest rate for African Americans vs. whites is nearly
the same? Isn’t is bad enough that we voted for Proposition 187,
although most of our government workers have their houses cleaned
and gardens tended by immigrants?
When will the double standard end? When will justice’s light
break through these overwhelming clouds of inequality and
oppression? I don’t know. But we can at least start by ensuring
that the regents overturn their decision to abolish affirmative
action.
Howard is a fourth-year anthropology student. His column appears
on alternate Thursdays.