Civil rights journal

64 Pages·1995·4.7 MB·English

by  United States Commission on Civil Rights

:
rre II
/
RIGHTS
CIVIL
JOUR
FALL 1999
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I^/ILrioiides:
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U.S. COMMISSION ON Cl\ II KK .1ITS
ThU U«uetjfthe
TIk- U.S. t;(iinmisMiiii on CjviI Kij^his is an iiHlcpcnJciit, hipiirtisan iincnty first Civil R/ghuJournal
isi.ililislii'il hyC^DiiKrcss in ||l^7 ;iiitl rLi-sl;ilili,slK4yvii^^'- '• '''ilirectcd to: isdedicated tothe
• Invtstigate a>mpl;iint.<i'i^lIl•^;jll^! riiiif'citizcns'^A.- k-in«ticprivod oftheir right t(i vote memoryofCommiMioner
l-iy riM.son of their nice, mlnr. religion, sex, at;e, tlisahility, or national origin, or hy A. Leon Higginhotham,
rea.son of Iraikluleni pracijc'Ufc^ ^ » ^ Jr.
1923-1998
• StuJ\ iikKollru iiilnmi.iiinii irljiiuL;lomltriminationoracleninlofequniprotection
ofthe laus under Iliet."oiisliiniii'n Im.uiseof race,color, religion, sex, age,dlsahihty,
ornational orit;iii; or m the .iJi^uu^^non ofjustice;
• A|-ipraise I'ederal laws and piiIk ks uiih respect todiscrimination or denial ofequal CIVILRIGHTS
protection ofthe laws because of race, color, religion, sex, age, disability, ornational
m
origin,or the adiiimistrationi>fjustice;
• Serveasanationalclearinghouseforinloniiation inrespect todiscriminationordenial
Editor
ofequal protection ot the laws because of race, color, religion, sex, age, disability, or David Arofison
nationalorigin;
• Submit reports,findings,andrecoiniiieiKlations tothe PresidentandGingress; Copy Editor
• Issue public service announcements to discourage discriminaticm or denial ofequal MarciaTyler
protectionofthe laws.
Editorial Assistant
In furtherance of its fact-finding duties, the Commission may hold hearings and issue Carolita Little
subpoenas(within theState inwhichthehearingisbeingheldandwithina 100-mileradius
ofthesite) forthe productionofdocumentsand theattciulanceof witnesses. Summer Interns
TheCommi.ssionctinsultswith representatnesot Federal, State, and kx:algo\emments, Alicia Bond
andprivateorganizations. JenniferTerfinko
Since the Commission lacks enforcement powers that would enable it to apply specific
remedies in iiulividual cases, it refers the many complaints it receives to the appropriate
Federal, State,or Kx:algovernmentagency,orprivateorganizationforaction. Design Consultant
Tlie Commission is composed ofeight Commissimiers: four appointed hy the President Michelle Wandres
andfourbyCongress. Not morethanfourof thememberscanbeofthesamepolitical parry.
FromamongtheCommission'smembers,thePresidentdesignatestheChairpersonandVice —Illustrator
Chairpersonwiththeconcurrenceofamajorityofthemembers. AmyTkac cover, pages 16, 34
Commissioners serve staggered temis ofsix years. No Senate confirmation is required. &
ThePresidentmayremo\eaCommissioneronl>'forneglectofdut>'ormalfeasanceinoffice. Photo —Cartoon C&rediLi
ExceptinAugust, theCommissionersholdmonthlymeetingsandcon\enese\'eralother Editor pages 5 5
timesayeartoconduct hearings, conferences, consu—ltations, andbriefings. CorbTihseImCaagretsoonpaBgeasn.k8—-9,pa1g0e,4282, 25
Tlie Commission has 51 Ad\-isory Committees one foreach State and the District o( —
Columbia. Each iscomposedotcitizensfamiliarwith local and Stateci\il rights issues. The KingFeaturesSyndicate page 54
members ser\e without compensation and assist the Commission with its tact finding,
investigati\e, and information dissemination functions. Members are nominated by
Commissionersorthe regionaldirectorfortheareaand\'otedonat aregularmeetingofthe U.S. Commission on Civil Rights
Commission.TTietermotoffice istwoyears.
A full-time Staff Director oversees the day-to day activities of the Commission, Mary Franco Berry
headquarteredinWashington, DC.TheStaffDirectorisappointedbythePresidentwiththe Chairperson
concurrence ofa majority of the Commission's members, and serxes at the pleasure ot the
Presiderit. All Commission personnel are employed under Federal ci\il ser\ice regulations Cru; Reynoso
andjobclassificationstandards. Vice Chairperson
LachoftheCommission'ssixregionalofficescoordinatestheCommission'soperationsin
itsregionand assists theState Ad\isoryCommittees in theiractixities. Regionaloffices are Carl A. Anderson
inWashington, Atlanta,Chicago, KansasCity, Denver,andLosAngeles. Christopher Edley,Jr.
The Commission's Robert S. Rankin Civil Rights Memorial Library is situated in Elsie M. Meeks
Commission headquarters, 624 Ninth St., N.W., Washington, DC 20425. (See page 60for Yvonne Y. Lee
detailsonthisclearinghouseofci\'ilrightsinformation.) RussellG. Redenbaugh
TheCommissionand itsStateAdvisoryCommitteeshaveproducedhundredsofreports
andstudiesonnational,regional,andIcKalcixil rightsmatters. Copiesotthesepublications
areavailablefreetothepublic,asisa"CatalogofPublications,"byrequesttothePublication RubyG. Mov
Office,U.S.CommissiononCivilRights,6249thStreet,N.W.Rlxhii600,Washington,DC StaffDirector
20425.
6
CIVILRIGKTS
usCOMMISSION ON CIVIL RIGHTS; J o u
UNIVERSITYOF MARYLAND
LAW SCHOOL'LIBRARY
Fall 1999
Volume Number
4, 1 ff8 1 2 2000
FEATURES
DEP06IT
8 The Resegregation of Our Nation's Schools
hy (Idiy OificLi
Wearebecoming afarmore raciallyandethnicallymixednation, butin our
schools, thecolorlinesarerising
Pacjc 8
16 The Digital Divide
byJessica Brouv
As we becomeevermore relianton information tcchnoUhn'. what happens to
those withoutaccess to it?
34 A Nation of Minorities
by I'aiai ChiJcyu
America has been a majority-whitenation obsessedwith hLkk and while
issues. It isbecominga majority-minoritynation with a muhiailiural Page1
population.
42 Health Care Special:
Women: Disparities and Discrimination, byAlyson Reed
W^
NativeAmericans: The Hidden Health Care Crisis, byMarkAnthony Rolo
49 Paired Testing
byMichael Fixc^MarcieiyAustin Turner
Why the U.S. needs a reliable reportcardon discrimination Paqe i4
53 Diversity Training
by Katrina .Jordan
Corporations havespentbillionson diversitytraining: Has it doneanygood?
DEPARTMENTS
J Close-Up: Two NewCommissioners Speak Out
Page 49
I 3 Yesterday: How We've Chosen To Remembera Florida Town's Destruction
II Global Views: Affirmative Adion in India
IH Viewpoints: The Wage Gap: Myth or Reality?
55 Books: on Ah. Robinson (^Addams
shouTldhebeCiJvtirleaReidgthotTsheJotduirtnoarlCiuvipluhRliughhatlshyJoiuhtrnValS GI'iSmmCommdmimssmioCnionnlCRii\gihltsR,italshtsp.a6n24ofNitisnctlheuSrtinjNhoWustWraesshpicnnsgitUohnliePsCE2d0i4t2or^ialinquiriesandmanusmpisuhmisuons
AriKlfSandothermatenalcontainedhereindonotnecessarilyreflectVSCCRpoluyhutareofferedtostimulatelliinhnuanddiscuaionaboutvariouscivilrightsissues Noper-
missionISreifuiredtoquoteorreprintionientswiththeexceptionofthoiethatareiopyrighledbyauthorsorfromotherpublications
TheCivil RightsJournal«availablefromtheuipennlendeniofDoaiments Co\rmmentPrintingOffice. Washington. DC20402 UseoffundsforproduangtheCivil
Rights Iiuirn.il hasbeenapprovedbytheDirectoroftheOfficeofManagementandBudget
—
In This Issue
Our Y2.05K Problem
Demography, social scientists are fond of Harvard professor Gary Orfield, who has been at the
—
saying, is ilcstlny by which ihey mean tiiat changes in forefront of research on educational opportunity forover
the make-up ofa population group lead to slow but inex- twenty years, must at times feel like a modem-day Cassan-
orable transformations in economic, cultural, and political dra, issuing unpo|Hilarwarnings that go unheeded. His
power. Ifso, the seismic shift now underway in America's study ofthe growing resegregation of America's schools is a
demographiccomposition is fateful indeed. sobering reminderthat the transition toa multi-cultural,
Considerthe trend: in 1950, fully 82 percent ofthe US multi—-racial society is not automatically going to be equi-
population was non-Hispanic white; 1 1 percent was black; table and that the inequalities may haunt us all.
and the remaining 7 percent was Hispanic, Asian Pacific At the root ofmany ofourcurrent controversies over
American, and Native American. In 2050, only 53 percent race and ethnicity lurk fundamental differences of percep-
oftlie US population will be white; 24 percent will be His- tion about the extent and nature ofdiscrimination in
panic, 14 percent black; 8 percent Asian, and about 1 per- America. In theirarticle on paired testing. Urban Institute
cent Native American. Sometime after 2050, minority scholars Michael Fix and Margery' Austin Turnerproposea
groups wUl outnumberwhites. Or, to put it differently, we concrete, empirical method formeasuring discrimination.
will all have become minorities. This "report card" could not only serve asa compelling,
The trend vexes some commentators, including some factual baseline forour national conversation on race, but
in the political mainstream, who argue unapologetically help advance a host ofwidely accepted social objeaives.
that America is a "white" nation and who advocate a ban Studying how othermulti-cultural democracies have
on immigration. Other commentators reject racial argu- struggled to reconcile a commitment to equality with the
ments but are concerned that tlie growing diversity of need to remedythe effeas ofpast discrimination can help
today's minority groups, coupled with what theyview as expand ourvision ofwhat is possible. Legal scholar Clark
an over-emphasis on cultural pluralism, might lead to a Cunningham examines the legal and philosophical basis of
dis-unified nation lacking the strength that has tradition- affirmative aaion in India, wliicli focuses on eradicating
ally come from widespread adherence to America's core the enduring effeas from centuries' ofoppression.
values. Also in the issue are contrastinginvestigations into the
The optimisticview takes tlie truism that America is a wage gap between men andwomen, interviews with nvo
land ofimmigrantsnotjust as an historical fact but as an new coimnissioners here atthe USCCR, analyses ofthe
organizingvalue. From the Boston Tea Party on, self- health care dilemmas facingwomen and Native Ameri-
defined groups ofany sort are nevermore American than cans, an evaluation of diversity training programs, and a
whenprotestingsomeperceived socialwrong. America's look at the digital divide: as webecome evermore reliant
cacophony is not a sign of its weakness, though it's often on modem technologs', are those without access to it des-
taken as such, but of its strength. (And surelythere is some tinedtobecome a disenfrancliised underclass as surely as if
ironytothe faathat multiculturalism is seen as so danger- they couldnot read orwrite?
ous at the very moment that nativists the world over The future of race, gender, and ethnic relations in tliis
regard American cultural hegemony with suchalarm.) country' is likelybe decided in a thousand negotiations
This issueofthe CivilRightsJournalrangeswidely, from overmatters as mundane aswhere toplace thenext ele-
such perennial topics as educational opportunityto such mentar\' school and as rarefied as colloquia on posnnodem
new concerns as the impact of the internet on social identity politics. How peaceable these negotiations uillbe
inequality. will dependon faaors, such as the future struaureand
In the coverarticle, freelance writerFarai Chideya growth ofthe economy, that are only partially within any-
focuses on the implications ofthe demographic transition one's control. But the smart money is betting that race
nowunderway: "Wehavebeena majority wliite nation relations circa 2050willbepoisedbetweenthe multi-cul-
obsessed withblack and white issues. We are becoming a tural hamiony ofa soft drink commercial and a Mad Max
majority-minority nation with a multicultural population." dystopia divided along racial and ethniclines into haves
—
Theproblem, Chideya observes, "is that in some ways we and have-nots a societyas raucous, democratic, and
—
are neitherhere northere." That is as succina a diagnosis prone to hyperbole as our ovvn, DA
ofourcurrent situation as there is.
2 Civil Rights Journal / Fall 1999
Close
Elsie Meeks:
Native American To Serve on Commission
First
Elsie M. Meeks was born in I think my being involved in
Kadoka.S.D.in 1953andraisedonthe community development at the
Pine Ridife Resenuition. She is an grassroots level brings a certain
enrolled memberofthe Ocjlala Lakota perspective. In addition, first-
Sioux Tribe. After studies at Ocjlala hand knowledge of reservation
Lakota Colleije. Ms. Meeksapplied her life and Native American inter-
skills as assistant manager and book- ests have been absent from the
keepper at the Cedar Pass Lodge and Commission.
senniasfinaneeofjlcerandaecountant CRJ: What do you hope to
for the newlyfoivied Lakota Fund, a accomplish as a commis-
non-profitcommunityde^'elopmentcor- sioner during your six-year
poration which providesfinancialand term?
housiuija.ssi.'itance,businessclasses,and During my six-year term I hope
start-up counseling to small business that I can bring a deeper under-
owners and micro-enterprises on the standing of Native and minority
Pine Ridge Reservation. She was issues. Because I have been
appointed Executive Director of the involved in development and
Fund in 1991. Under hersupeivision other pursuits, both, off and on
the Fund hasseen substantialgrowth. the reservation, I know that
In 1995,sheandapartneropenedthe most prejudices come from a
Long(JreekStoreat Wanblee, agroceiy lack of knowledge and experi-
store that ako sellsfastfoodandgaso- ences with different people.
line. Shesen'es on various boards and
CRJ: How did you become
comnuinir\'associations.
In 1994, Ms. Meeks was named interested in civil rights?
Minority Small Business Advocate of As I have been involved in eco-
the Year by the South Dakota Small Busi- CRJ: How do you feel your edu- nomicand community development,
ness Administration and a Woman ofthe cation and experience prepared it is apparent thai economic issues
Year by Ms. Magazine. In 1998, she was you for your position as a Com- are at the heart of civil rights issues.
selected by Senator Bernie Hunhoff, the missioner? As people become self-sufficient,
DemocraticcandidateforgovernorofSouth Although I was raised on a reserva- they become less ojipressed.
Dakota, to run with him for the office of tion tor most of my life, my life expe-
lieutenantgovernor riences have given me a very broad CRJ: What do you see as some
She and her husband live and ranch perspective. I have been involved in major goals or issues for the
south ofInterior, South Dakota, providing community development for nearly Commission on Civil Rights as
stockforwesternSouth Dakotarodeos. They 15 years and have seen firsthand the we move into the 21st century?
have seven children and fourgrandchil- barriers that exist forminority i)eople. A major goal, as 1 see it, as we move
dren. Threeoftheirsonsarerodeocompeti- into the 21st century is that minori-
tors. CRJ: What interests or issues do ties have fair access to education and
Simimerintern.JenniferTerfinkospoke you feel you personally bring to economic opportunities.
with CommissionerMeeks in Julv. 1999. the Commission?
Fall 1999 / Civil Rights Journal J
i
Close
CRJ: What do you sec in the ment (Bureau of Indian Affairs) has
future for the civil rights move- "Firsthand knowledge lieen habitually mismanaged. Inaddi-
ment? tion, still today, rights that were given
1 truly believe lluil luuirc progress in of reservation life and to Indians are being diminished.
the civil rights movement will only
come about as we (minority people Native American CRJ: What could communities
take control over our own li\'es and do to assist their members with
communities. Ofcoiuse, tliis can only interests have been the promotion of entre-
hajipen if education and economic prenuerism and small business
o|)portunitiesare availableat the coni- absent from the development in this area?
nuuiity level. Corrununitiesdoneedtogetinvolved
Commission" in their own development. It will
CRJ: The Commission on Civil onlybe through communitydevelop-
Rights has traditionally consid- ment organizations that community
ered itselfthe moral conscience point where they can own their own members will have access to educa-
ofthe nation on civil rights. How business even if they enter wi—th no tional and economic opportunities
do you see it fulfilling that role in prior management experience basi- because of a community organiza-
the future? cally any type of program that will tion's commitment to its community.
In my view, the Commission must provide equal access to education and
continue to tnonitor and examine economic opportunities. CRJ: What would you suggest
issuesconcerningfairpracticesin edu- citizens do that would promote
cation, public safety, lending, etc. I CRJ: Which civil rights leaders do a better situation for all Native
also think that the Commission needs you feel have made the greatest Americans in this country?
to keepa watch on publicprogramsto impact on the nation? First of all, I would suggest people
ensure that education and economic Of course, Martin Luther King Jr. has educate themselvesandby doingthat
opportunitiesareavailabletocommu- had themostimpact on thecivil rights people might come toan understand-
nities. movement. Therewereothers such as ing, especially of treaty issues, and
CeasarChavez. ForNative Americans, how badly Native Americans were
CRJ: What specific areas or issues I would have to say that Russell treated. Thegovernment issuedbind-
would you like to see the Com- Means, Dennis Banks and Clyde Bel- ing documents, binding agreements,
mission focus on? lecourle had the most impaa. I think and then completely did not honor
I do believe that we must continue the most important role they all them.
discussion on affimiative action. My played was to raise people's sights; \o
personalbeliefis thatpeople that have give them a vision of not accepting CRJ: Ifyou could wave a wand
been oppressed formanygenerations, oppression. to solve one civil rights issue,
as have most minorities, in order for which would it be and why?
them to have an equal place in soci- CRJ: Do you believe that the It would be for people to be more tol-
ety, must be given special opportuni- problems ofNative Americans erant of each other, because if they
ties. This does not mean that stand- are seen as being in the main- were, we would not have all of the
ards must be lowered. It may mean, stream ofthe civil rights move- issues that we have right now. SS
though, that particular programs ment?
should be implemented in the com- No, I do not believe that problems of
munity to ensure readiness. Native Americans are seen asbeing in
the mainstream of the civil rights
CRJ: What types ofprograms? movement. I am always appalled at
Forinstancethe Lakota Fund, because the lack of knowledgebymost people
we are a community-based organiza- ofNative American issues.
tion, wemakethecommitment toour There are certain legal issues that
community members that we will are at the heart of Native American
provide them whateversteps are nec- issues such as treaties that were
essary to get to the point where they legally binding and then were vio-
can be good business people. We are lated. The trust imposed on Native
committed to getting people to the Americans by the Federal govern-
4 Civil Rights Journal / Fall 1999
Close
Christopher Edley, Jr
Harvard Law Professor, Presidential Advisor
ChristopherEdley, Jr has father was active in the
tauijht at Harvard Law My generation has failed civil rights mo\ement and
Schoolsince 1981. His recent also spent some time work-
hook. Not All Black and ing as a consultant for the
White: Affirmative to define for itself its responsibility for U.S. Civil Rights Connnis-
Action, Race and Ameri- sion back in the early 60s;
can Values, grew out ofhis carrying the civil rights struggle forward working on Native Ameri-
work as special counsel to can issues, visiting Indian
President Clinton and direc- reservationsand investigat-
torofthe WhiteHousereview ing civil rights concerns
lacing American Indians.
ofaffirmative action. In thai
capacity, he participated in r\'e always been interested
developing) the President's in publicpolicyand politics
"Mend It, Don't End It" and a career that would
speech on affirmative action. involve those issues partic-
He isfoundincf co-director of ularlyastheyaffect a broad
audience.
The Civil Rights Project, a
recentlylaunchedthink-tank
CRJ: How has your
basedat Har\'ard.
Mr Edley isa 1973grad- educational background
prepared you lor work
uate ofSwarthmore College
and a 1978 honors joint- with civil rights?
degree graduate of the My undergraduate train-
Kennedy School ofGovern- ing was in math and eco-
ment and Harvard Law nomics and my economics
background has continued
School, wherehewasan Edi-
tor of the Harvard Law to be helpful. That's what I
Review. Summer Intern Ali- built on in graduate school
cia Bond spoke with Mr by doing a joint degree in
Edleyin July 1999. law and public policy. I
jlwaysintendedona career
CRJ: How did you locused on public policy
become interested in issues. That combination of
civil rights? training in law and public
I was born in 1953, jiolicy has served me well.
and as I was growing up
CRJ: What do you hope
ipnayPhilaatdteelnpthiiao,nI bteoganthteo to accomplish as a com-
events related to civil missioner in the next
rights. Of course, my six years?
Fall 1999 / Civil Rights Journal 5
I think ihal during ihc years of for remedying discrimination and cre- minority strength continues t(j grow,
Republican control the Commission ating inclusive institutions and com- especially in the Hispanic communi-
really became a shadow of its fornier munities in the pursuit of excellence. ties. That's counterbalanced with the
self. It was not sufficiently agj^ressive Opponents ofaffirmativeaction, how- political importance of money so that
in bringing the nation's attention to ever, are well organized, well funded campaign finance issues anually are
unmet challenges and new opportu- and very skillful in attracting public beginning to have a profound effea
nities to advance civil rights issues. I attention to their views. I think it is on the political power of minorities. I
think that we have an opportunity in important forcivil rights supporters to think it's only a matter of time before
the next fewyearstotryand make up continue to fight this important battle political public policy observers stan
for lost ground and strengthen the by recognizing that there are places linking campaign finance reform
institution. Substantively, I'm very where affirmative action needs to be issues with the issue of minoritypolit-
interested in the ways in which civil modified inorderto deal with shitis in ical access. I think that the most trou-
rights law enforcement can be an publicattitudes. bling thing about the decade, how-
effective tool in opening opportunity ever, is the persistence of unequal
in education and employment. We educational opportunity.
am
have to continue working on the I very interested in
traditional anti-discriminatoryagenda CRJ: Would you say that is
and issues related specifically to eco- today's number one civil rights
nomic opportunity. The second the set of new concerns issue?
general area I am very interested in is Yes. However th—ere is no shortage
the set of new concerns arising from ofcivil rightsissues fromhatecrimes
the Nation's exploding diversity. The arising from the to housing discrimination. But, in the
expanding Latino and Asian popula- longer run, we are going to have sep-
tions are causing a lot ofcommunities arate Americas unless we fix the
to think about civil rights issues. A Nation's exploding schools.
great deal of civil rights thinking is
stuck in a black-white paradigm. The CRJ: What civil rights issues will
Commission can help the nation diversity be at the forefront in the next 10-
update its conceptualization of the 20 years?
civil rights struggle. Unequal education opportunity,
language, gay rights, integration. I
CRJ: How do you foresee future CRJ: What progress would you picked that list looking far ahead
race relations? say minorities have made since because I am looking at the long-term
It dependson mymood. Somedays 1990? trends, the sources of strain and fric-
I'm very optimistic and other days I I don't have data at my fingertips, tion tliat wearegoingtohave tograp-
feel as though there are substantial but, asa general matter, the economic ple with. I mentioned integration,
majorities that are indifferent to the recovery of the last several years has because at the moment, the integra-
moral shortcomings ofthe nation. made a tremendous differe—nce in a lot tion idea is out offavoramongpeople
of minority communities reducing of all races. I thinJv that in one or two
CRJ: You've been particularly unemployment rates to record low decadesit willbequite clearthatwith-
focused lately on affirmative levels even though they continue to out a concerted commitment to con-
action. What do you see happen- be twicethatofthewhitecommunity. nea people across lines of class and
ing to affirmativeaction in the It's always the case that urban com- color, our society will be in serious
next few years? munities are the last to experience danger of falling apart.
Affirmative action is going to con- economic recoveries and the first to
tinue tobe abattleground issue in the experience economic downturns. CRJ: What are your thoughts on
courtsandinpolitics. Therearedeeply Until there are structural improve- those who call fora color-blind
held values at stake on both sides, as ments in education and community, society?
well as sharp differences of percep- and economic development and Different people have different
tions. I personally am a strong sup- access tojobs, we can expea substan- motives in such a case. Some are
porter of President Clinton's "mend it tial disparityin opportunityto remain, doing it because they want to under-
don't end it" approach and believe andthat cycleoflast hired-first firedto mine the effectiveness of current
that affirmative action is a critical tool continue. On a political front, I think strategies for creating opportunity for
6 Civil Rights Journal / Fall 1999
Close
ihosc ilial lunc been liisiorkally left forward as inevitably as th—e years luinian rights commissions iliai have
out. I believe that we are still at a rolled by. That was wrong every stated that the President's initiative
[loint at which we need to pay atten- generation has to decide how to pick has given them more room to be
tion to color in order to get beyond it. up the biuden and carry it forward. I ambitious and active, and there are
Thereareotherpeoplewhomaybe of think my generation has also failed people of all ages and all walks of life
good will, yet who believethat explic- because we have not done enough to who have started to rethink what
itly pa\ing attention to race, or to teach the yoimger generation aboin kirui of person they can be in working
gender lor that matter, actuallyunder- history and the equal rights struggle. for racial and ethnicjustice in Amer-
mines thegoal oftoleranceand equal- There are too many minorities and ica. Mysense isthat there are millions
ity. I think they are wrong as an women in their twenties and thirties of iK'ople who want help in this area,
empirical matter, hut I also think you whoare afraid ofthe burden ofa little but do not know what to do. The
need tobeclearerabout what the ulti- stigma and feel as though their bur- President's race initiative as it contin-
mate destination is. I don't want jieo- den is as oppressive as Jim Crow and ues and the particularbook he is writ-
ple taking away my blackness. It's a ingcan helpprovide some useful sug-
part ofwho Iam. I don't want ourdif- gestions about what people can do.
ferences to be invisible and I don't The most troubling The contribution can be very substan-
want them to be merely tolerated. tial and a major part of his legacy. I
Rather I want them to be celebrated. don't think the Commission should
Our religious differences are not thing about the decade trytowork directly with the President
things to which we are blind. We in or the White House because it is
faa recognize and celebrate the differ- important for us to have some meas-
ence in our various religious practices is the persistence of ure of institutional independence.
and we understand that that is what While I work closely with the Presi-
helps to make America so unique and dent and members of his Administra-
strong. Our goal should not be race unequal educational tion, I separate that from what the
blindness. It should be that we work Commission shoulddo institutionally.
to build an America in which the role On the other hand, the existence of
opportunity
of race is limited and is not the most the President's initiative creates
important thing. So, it's a complicated opportunities for the Commission's
answer because it's a complicated work to have greater visibility and
issue. The short response is that the police clubbings. 1 tliink that kind of opportunities for us to engage the
color-blindness slogan has been self-centered analysis of justice is leadership of public sectors and pay
appropriated by people who are shameful. attention to the civil rights concerns
opposed to virtually every effective that we identify. But we cannot be
strategy to close the opportunity gap. CRJ: How effective has President part of the public relations apparatus
Clinton's One America initiative of the White House. We must be pre-
CRJ: In an address you gave been and how can the Commis- pared to be critical when the White
recently at Northeastern Univer- sion work along with the Presi- House and the Administration fall
sity you stated that your genera- dent on this initiative? short of the high expectations we
tion has failed. How has your 1 believe the Presidem's initiati\e should all have. EQ
generation failed and what is the has been far more effeaive than most
best way for future generations people inside the beltway realize. We
to succeed? are still waiting for the Presideiu to
1 think my generation has failed to complete his final report to the Amer-
define for itself its responsibility for ican people, which will be in the form
carrying the civil rights struggle for- of a book. But, around the country,
ward. We grew up watching the suc- there have been countless activities
cesses of the older generation in either started or given heightened
knocking down barriers and advanc- prominence as a result of the Presi-
ing justice, but mistakenly concluded dent'sinitiative. Therearc newspapers
that progress is inevitable. We went that have done special series on race
about our own perst)nal agendas and relations, programs at imiversities that
just assumed that justice would move did not e.xisi before. State and local
Pail 1999 / Civil Rights Journal 7
—
1963^-^Birmingham, AL High school students stayed out ofintegrated West End Highand
other Birmingham schoolsas students from non-integrated Phillips High cross streetafter
leaving school. Policewith riot guns (left) formed ahuman blockade when students tried to
enter Phillips in an effortto pursuadestudents thereto leave. CORBIS/Bettmann
Civil Rights Journal / Fall 19