If Californians did not have enough to worry about; its the most recent budget, utilizing a mixture of borrowing and finagling, will leave the Golden State with a $8 billion deficit and cuts in services to the most vulnerable members of society; there is the recall election that has become a circus attracting porn kings, action heroes, and diminutive former child actor/security guards all seeking the governor’s chair, there is Proposition 54 to consider.
On Tuesday October 7, in addition to deciding whether or not Gray Davis should remain in office, voters will also decide if Prop. 54 is good for California. If passed, Prop. 54 would eliminate data collection that identifies inequities, making it impossible to prosecute hate crimes, enforce civil rights laws or to effectively target programs that combat chronic health problems.
The architect of Prop. 54 is none other than Ward Connerly of Prop. 209 fame. Mr. Connerly has shrewdly developed benign language for his referendum to say the least: “The state shall not classify any individual by race, ethnicity, color or national origin in the operation of public education, public contracting or public employment.”
What’s wrong with that? Doesn’t this get us closer to the colorblind society that most Americans say they want? In fact, those who love to take Martin King out of context would proclaim the passage Prop. 54 would mark the day where we would not be judged by the color of our skin but by the content of our character.
But a colorblind society should not be confused with homogenization. The uniqueness of the American Experiment is not our attempt to become a “Stepford” citizenry; rather the collective willingness to struggle with how flag wavers and burners can be protected simultaneously under the banner of free speech.
Proponents of Prop. 54 argue that race is no longer an issue. They suggest there is a “Tiger Woodsification” of America, whereby interracial marriage increasingly makes racial identification obsolete. Mr. Connerly is quick to point to his multiple heritage of African American, Native American, and European ancestry. But this analysis fails to consider that since the arrival of the first African slaves to Jamestown, VA in 1619, there has been a mixing or the races. Is the argument that a 384-year phenomenon now renders data collection irrelevant? Tell that to the next African American or Latino man who stopped by the police for no other reason than they “fit the description.”
We should not underestimate the value of data. Data informs us that while white
women are far more likely to have breast cancer, African American women are far
more likely to die from it. Data informs us that Vietnamese men have higher rates
of tuberculosis and African American men are the leading recipients of prostrate
cancer. Such analysis could be eliminated if Prop. 54 passes.
The aforementioned data saves lives. It tells us where to emphasize limited resources.
Do we want to be so colorblind that we cannot see human need that could otherwise
be addressed?
Prop. 54 follows in the egregious footsteps of its referendum predecessors. The California initiative process has been a haven for wedge issues singling out women, African Americans, Latinos, as well as gays and lesbians. Using simple, non-threatening language has been a common and effective theme for the authors of these initiatives, but has it made the state better? If the question is: Has it made Ward Connerly better? The answer is yes. He has effectively parlayed his crusade as the pied piper of racial neutrality into a profitable enterprise.
In conservative circles, Mr. Connerly is a much-in-demand speaker and author, not to mention the lucrative salary that he receives to chair these initiatives. But I’m not so sure California is better.
California, with its budget deficits, recall elections, and the carnival atmosphere created by the latter does not need to support a poorly planned, mean spirited initiative that could cost lives, support injustice, and further divide the mosaic that makes this state unique.
If Mr. Connerly needs a job that bad, there is a porn king, an action hero, and a out of work child actor who may be looking for campaign workers. For more information on the campaign to defeat Prop. 54, visit www.informedcalifornia.org