By Robert Salonga
Daily Bruin Contributor
Slavery in the United States continues to affect the African
American population 150 years after its abolishment, a pastor said
in Moore Hall on Tuesday.
Brett Fuller, a Washington, D.C.-based pastor and founder of the
African American Resource Ministry, spoke to an audience of about
80 about repairing race relations in the U.S.
“Much of what is happening now is directly attributable to
slavery,” Fuller said.
The program, titled “Racial Reconciliation,” was
sponsored by the Undergraduate Students Association Council
President’s Office in honor of Black History Month.
Fuller shared anecdotes and personal experiences with racism,
and expressed what he feels needs to be done to accelerate progress
in increasing opportunities for African Americans.
“Black and white people may be getting along personally,
but sociologically, economically, and politically there’s
still a great divide,” Fuller said.
USAC President Elizabeth Houston had invited Fuller to UCLA
after hearing him speak at the nation’s capital.
“Racial reconciliation is one of the biggest problems in
the country, and racial reparations need to be done,” Houston
said.
During his speech, Fuller cited that one in three African
Americans lives below the poverty line.
“You don’t find this among Vietnamese Americans,
Hispanic Americans or any other community; just African
Americans,” Fuller said.
According to the pastor, this statistic is largely derived from
slavery, which deprived African Americans of resources for the
better part of 25 generations.
“Because of slavery, we have created a permanent
underclass,” he said.
Fuller criticized a recent proposal submitted by UC Regent Ward
Connerly’s American Civil Rights Coalition. If passed,
classification of people based on race and ethnicity for public
education, contracting, or employment would be prohibited
throughout the state.
Connerly, who is African American, also campaigned for the
passage of Proposition 209, a 1996 California ballot initiative
which eliminated the use of affirmative action in college
admissions and hiring.
“I’ve read his book, and don’t agree with what
he’s proposed,” Fuller said.
The primary solution Fuller proposed to his audience was a plan
to benefit companies that hire African Americans.
Under his proposed plan, the government would give tax relief to
businesses that deliberately hire qualified African American
employees.
“We were purposefully kept out of those positions for
generations, and while some may disagree with me, we have to start
somewhere,” Fuller said.
Unless action is taken immediately, the situations of poor
African Americans may never improve, Fuller said.
Fuller’s experience with race relations dates back to his
early childhood. In 1966, his family moved from Kansas City to a
white suburb in Kansas, where Fuller was one of few African
American children living in his neighborhood.
“I was called every name imaginable,” Fuller
said.
Fuller went on to attend Bethany College in Lindsborg, Kansas,
Indiana University and Chesapeake Theological Seminary.
In 1999, Fuller founded AARM, an organization dedicated to
restoring and rebuilding African American communities and families.
He also sits on the board of directors for the Darryl Green
Foundation, an outreach program for inner-city youth in D.C.
While not everyone attending agreed with what Fuller said
Tuesday night, most said they at least gained a new
perspective.
“I’d thought that slavery was done with and that
everything’s OK now,” said George Aguila, a fourth-year
physics student. “After hearing him speak I learned that
there is still oppression going on.”
Houston said she had high hopes, but was happy with the
turnout.
“The leaders of the next generation are here at UCLA, and
they need to hear this message,” Houston said.