Affirmative Action

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Laying the Groundwork: Preparing for the Affirmative Action Battles Ahead (Room C203)
This session will be a participatory discussion to help us collectivize what is happening with affirmative action around the country, and what needs to be done over the next few years to stop the bleeding. Come prepared to share, and get updates on Michigan, new communications theory and Ward Connerly’s next steps.

Charlene Sinclair, Poverty Initiative at Union Theological Seminary
Lynne Wolf, Center for Social Inclusion
Anjali Thakur, Leadership Conference on Civil Rights

Notes:

Threats to AA at state and local level
-Michigan, in Nov. passed anti-affirmative action legislation

-what strategies to counter-act Ward Connerly's 11-state anti-affirmative action campaign

What's keeping ppl from supporting affirmative action:
-individual framework
-limited governt. framework

-Must discuss all things--disparities, social constructs, and frameworks--when
addressing affirmative action

--Should question terms like "qualified people of color"

Questions from audience:

-How do you talk about Affirmative action in non-white communities?

-What work is being done in less diverse cities; a lot of work is happening
in "progressive" states

Some issues:

-Affirmative action has been so racialized that ppl don't see they are also
beneficiaries of it; movement has to communicate importance of AA policy
to ppl in powerful positions

Resources:
Thinking Change (PDF)
The Dangers of Not Speaking About Race (PDF)
Support for Race-Conscious Policies (PDF)

2 Comments

susan@firelightmedia.org, 566 - days ago

If you believe a good strategy to beat back Ward Connerly's initiatives is to appeal to white people's selfinterest and/or white people's fondness for diversity, PLEASE read Tim Wise's 2005 book AFFIRMATIVE ACTION.