Christian
Education
Outreach USA

The recent supreme ruling which invalidated voluntary integration plans in the school districts of Seattle, Washington and metropolitan Louisville, Kentucky is consistent with a trend which begun in 1978 with the University of California /Blakke case where the Supreme Court imposed limitations on affirmative action programs which had insured minimal minority representation in certain venues.

There appears to be an attempt to reverse the civil rights gains of the 1960's during a period of time when blacks and other minorities were totally excluded from attending certain schools and banned from various public accommodations

Both white and black women benefited the most from the Affirmative Action/ Civil Rights programs of the past. Women have always had the ability to excel but were denied an opportunity to maximize their potential until the passing of Civil Rights legislation in the 1960's. Black males also benefited from Affirmative Action Programs to a lesser degree.

Civil Rights legislation opened doors that would have remained permanently shut to innocent people who did share the same gender or race of those who were in positions of power. Some say that the Affirmative Action Programs have served their purpose and are no longer needed. The truth of the matter is that equal opportunity programs are needed today more than ever. The Supreme Court which is composed of five conservative males, one female and three moderate males have the power to pass rulings which totally disregards affirmative action and civil rights legislation. The court is not fully representative of the gender, the social economic and the cultural background of America.

The voting patterns of whites and blacks suggest that race is a factor in America. It appears that it is human nature to vote for those who share a common racial heritage. If there were no Civil Rights Legislation or Affirmative Action Programs there would be few if any Black legislators in Congress or on the local level.

In the past states simply did not voluntarily protect the voting rights of minority voters. This is why the Voter Rights Act was recently extended. When a race of people has little or no political representation they are at an extreme disadvantage in addressing their issues and concerns. This was painfully illustrated during the first half of the last century. Blacks were denied the right to enter certain public accommodations, denied equal access to loans, voting rights and denied entrance into some of the best colleges and universities.

The rights of all Americans are recorded in the Bill of Rights of the Constitution but if those rights are not enforced by men and women who are in positions of power, there is very little protection under the law for persons who have inadequate representation.

Affirmative Action Programs will be needed until human nature changes. Change begins when men and women rely on the guidance of God rather than man. When people who are in positions of power are totally objective when dealing with others from different racial and social economic backgrounds; it will be time to do away with Affirmative Action Programs.

The History of America suggests that people will not change until they see and feel the pain of others. Images of a teenage Emmett Till who was beaten beyond recognition in a southern town in the 1950's because he whistled at a white woman and seeing large fire hoses knock innocent boys and girls to ground because they protested the practice of racial discrimination changed the hearts of many Americans. It took those kinds of experiences to open doors to Civil Rights legislation and Affirmative Action Programs which improved the lives of women and persons of different racial backgrounds in America.

People need to be reminded to be fair and objective. If there were no Highway Patrolmen there are those who would disregard travel laws. The same can be said about the Constitution, without a strong Affirmative Action Program many in positions of power would not respect the rights and privileges of persons from a different race, color or creed.

Unfortunately America has not matured to the point where those who are in positions of power always judge others by the content of their character rather than by the color of their skin. Some type of Civil Rights legislation and affirmative programs needs to remain in place because America has not always been friendly to women and minorities who have equal or superior abilities. Some kind of gender and racial safeguards need to remain in place until those who are in positions of power are fully objective in addressing the needs persons regardless of race, color or creed.

Micheal J. Darby
Supply, NC