Affirmative action debate

Ward Connerly, chairman of the American Civil Rights Institute, is a prominent opponent of affirmative action and in a recent debate argued for the removal of race-based preferences:

"I think we have failed in our concern about integration. We have been so concerned about that over the years that we have destroyed black neighborhoods; we've destroyed black schools. We do not provide the infrastructure. We do not provide the quality of education for these kids in their schools so that parents can be close to them. We've been more concerned about having a black kid sit next to a white kid, and I think in the process we have paid a dear price for that."

He debated the issue with Marvin Krislov, president of Oberlin College and former vice president and general counsel at the University of Michigan recently at the City Club of Cleveland. You can hear the debate on this week's Word for Word.

What side do you fall on? Does Connerly make a good argument? Or, should race be a consideration in admissions and hiring practices?

__________________________

Larissa Anderson

Producer, Word for Word

MPR | APM

Comments: 9

Spencer T. Apr 18, 2008, 7:10pm EDT

Affirmative Action is still needed.

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Don B. Apr 18, 2008, 7:56pm EDT

Affirmative action is reverse discrimination. There is no other way to look at it. I've seen it up close and personal. Often a lesser qualified candidate gets a position on the basis of race alone. Why should a person be denied a job on the bases of race?
What makes this ok for blacks and not ok for whites?
Would it not be better to make sure ALL kids have an opportunity to go to college?
We have laws to insure fair hiring practices, we don't need quotas.
And I agree on some of Connerly's points. The government mandated intergration of schools insured no separation of the races in school. But it did destroy the community schools for both races. It lowered the educational standards so that all could pass. I don't see that as helping anyone.
I am a proponent of community schools. But in doing that we must make certain that all schools recieve adequate funding to operate. I think community schools incur more parent participation, which translates to better students and better education.

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Katie R. Apr 19, 2008, 1:20am EDT

Not for Affirmative Action

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Joe T. Apr 19, 2008, 1:24pm EDT

For too long, whites were given privilege. Now that some people want to extend those same offers to blacks, there is a backlash. It's nonsense. Affirmative action has its place.

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Selly S. Apr 20, 2008, 2:29pm EDT

I think Ward Connerly has a very narrow point of view that doesn't include, which he won't allow to include, the situation of many, I dare even say the majority, of black people. And that situation is that Black people, overall, by far are at a disadvantage. Black people do need some sort of assistance in just about all areas of upward mobility whether it concern work or school. I agree that it is in fact paramount that we work on closing the gap between "haves and have-nots," as Mr. Connerly puts it, at a much earlier point in the lives of young black students. That is so very true. But why is it ok to just give up on college students or working adults who are also, still at a disadvantage. They're to fend for themselves? Affirmative action is not perfect. We all know that. But let's work on improving, changing it maybe, but not eliminate it. All that is, is asking to throw the black community right back into 1935.

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deminn from Minnesota Apr 21, 2008, 2:18pm EDT

Affirmative action is institutionalized racisim, nothing less.

You end discrimination, and isims by not tolerating them. This program does the opposite, it uses race as a catagory of merit. In a society focused on equality, you do no one any favors by maintaining inequality based on race.

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