April 2000 Volume III, Issue II An Evening at the Reagan Library By Kevin Nguyen In this issue: tanding atop the rolling national pride.” much like the Ameri- 3 The Nation in Brief mountains overlooking Simi can Experiment to “The Reagan years 4 Florida Update Valley and the greater Los create a united Angeles basin, the Ronald have often been re- people out of our 5 Play Ball Reagan Presidential Library ferred to as a ‘quiet many differences; it is welcomed ACRI Chairman revolution,’” he contin- a work-in-progress.” 6 Message from on March 23, ued. “But, the cause of indi- the Chairman S vidual liberty—a principal pillar The Reagan philosophy, coupled 2000, as part of its distinguished 7 One Drop Rule Reagan Lecture series. in the structure of freedom de- with his long relationship with signed by Ronald Reagan—is continued on page 2 8 What They Said... On hand to introduce Mr. Connerly was his longtime friend and Reagan Foundation trustee, Governor . Governor Wilson gave a very warm introduction, sharing some insight on their friendship spanning four decades.

The Mission of ACRI Speaking to a filled auditorium of fellow Reagan devotees from Our mission is to educate around the state and the country, the American public about Mr. Connerly talked about how racial and gender prefer- President Reagan “was admired ences and the importance and will be remembered in the of achieving equal opportu- annals of history for his strong nity for everyone. convictions and his dedication to his ‘Four Pillars of Freedom’ – Specifically, ACRI focuses individual liberty, economic op- on public education, policy portunity, global democracy and research, monitoring the status of ’s Proposition 209 and work- Americans Are Tired of Racial Boxes: ing with other national Vast Majority Want Government to “Leave My Race Alone!” organizations to build a coalition in support of by M. Royce Van Tassell equal treatment by our new Zogby poll finds that a across the country about their should not require Americans to government. commanding majority of views on the need for racial disclose their “race”. Similarly, The views expressed in this Americans are tired of the boxes on government forms, the nearly 82 percent of Americans publication do not necessarily government’s silly little race uses to which the data collected believe we have a right to racial reflect the positions of ACRI. boxes. Nearly 65 percent of from these boxes is put, how privacy. When asked whether the 1000 people surveyed felt often racial data should be gath- the government should collect Athe government should simply ered, how race is determined, race data on certain policy issues eliminate the racial boxes on and who should determine a such as bank loans, college ad- ACRI government forms altogether. person’s race. missions, health care and people P.O. Box 188350 stopped by the police, 53 percent Sacramento, CA 95818 Commissioned by the American The survey asked people about oppose collecting the data at all. 916-444-2278 phone Civil Rights Institute, as part of the need for the government’s its on-going “Race Has No race boxes at several points dur- In perhaps the most striking 916-444-2279 fax Place”1 project, the survey que- ing the interview. Seventy-seven finding of the entire poll, 58 per- www.acri.org ried more than 1000 likely voters percent believe the government continued on page 5 An Evening at the Reagan Library continued from page 1

Governor Wilson, had a pro- President Reagan, it was also found effect on Mr. revealed, inspired the title of Connerly’s conversion from a Mr. Connerly’s newly-released self-described “brown- autobiography, “Creating skinned, Baptist Democrat” to Equal: My Fight Against Race a Republican in 1969. In one Preferences.” At the 1992 Re- of the best lines of the publican National Convention evening, he named not two, in Houston, President Reagan but three, major motivators of proclaimed: “Whether we his political transformation: come from poverty or wealth, Pete Wilson, Ronald Reagan whether we are Afro-Ameri- and Willie Brown. can or Irish-American, Chris- tian or Jewish, from big cities nce a Democrat and or small towns, in the eyes of NAACP-ACLU member God, we are all equal. But, in and now a recipient of the America, that is not enough. California Republican We have to be equal in the Party’s Ronald Reagan eyes of each other.” Lady Nancy Reagan, Reagan heart-felt words: “Thank you, Award and a board mem- Mr. President.” Ober of the Ronald Reagan Echoing the sentiments of Library Executive Director Legacy Project, Mr. Connerly many Americans today, Mr. Mark Burson and the rest of (For the complete text of Mr. heralded the Reagan record. Connerly concluded: “We des- the Library and Foundation Connerly’s March 23rd ad- perately need staff and volunteers for the dress at the Reagan Library, leaders like honor and an especially please contact Caroline Kreling Ronald Reagan, memorable evening, Mr. at 916-444-2278 or access it at individuals who Connerly closed with four www,acri.org.) are not afraid to tell us what they believe— not what they think we want to hear, who can communi- cate their be- liefs in terms that are not couched in po- litical correct- ness, and who are willing to defend their “’[C]ivil rights’ are individual beliefs, no matter what.” rights that attach to every in- dividual, not to any group,” In addition to expressing his he said. “Ronald Reagan un- deep gratitude to former First derstood that race, gender and ethnic preferences were a dep- rivation of individual liberty, and that they were morally Photos – Friends and Supporters wrong. He spoke out against of ACRI such practices with clear and Top right: Gail Heriot, Ward compelling conviction. He Connerly, and Kevin Nguyen. didn’t coat his opposition Top left: Johnny Zamrzla, Pam Zamrzla and Ward Connerly. with a lot of mush about ‘in- Above: Guests attending the clusion,’ ‘diversity,’ ‘compas- Reagan Forum line up to have sion,’ and ‘leveling the playing Ward Connerly personally field.’ He understood that true autograph their copy of Creating compassion meant equipping Equal. Bottom left: Ed Blum, individuals to be self-sufficient Lark Blum, and Ward Connerly. and unfettered by the intru- sions of government into their lives.” 2 The Nation In Brief Ward Connerly Inducted into the Racial Harmony Hall of Fame The era of preferences is under siege from many different directions, from the ballot box to the statehouse to the courtroom. Here is a sample of just some of the recent, major legal developments from around the country: On March 31, Steve and Ruth White, President and Founder of “A Place For Us,” a national multiracial (DENVER, CO) – U.S. District Court Judge Richard Matsch ruled in March that it is uncon- advocacy and support group, in- stitutional for contractors doing business with the city of Denver to be ducted ACRI Chairman Ward required to use minority and female subcontractors. Basing his decision Connerly into their Racial Harmony on the 14th Amendment’s “equal protection” clause, the judge found Denver Hall of Fame at a , D.C. press conference. that the city should have awarded a contract to Marc Lenart’s Concrete Works of because it was the low bidder. Mr. Connerly thanked the Multira- cial Coalition for the honor. The (HOUSTON, TX) – In February, U.S. District Court Judge David Hittner signed a consent multiracial movement, he said, is decree effectively ending the use of racial, ethnic and gender preferences in state highway about ending the One Drop Rule, construction projects. In March 1999, Houston-based subcontractor “which has been the source of so Robert Kossman sued the Texas Department of Transportation, but much mischief in American history.” shortly before trial was scheduled to begin, the Department settled. In accepting the award, Mr. Connerly also commented on the (HOUSTON, TX) – In March, the Campaign for a Color-Blind prominent placement of the race America filed an appeal with the U.S. Supreme Court in the case question on Census 2000. “There of John Goode. Mr. Goode, the owner/operator of Mr. Bones Houston has been a real outrage over the BBQ in Austin, was stripped of his city contract to sell BBQ at place of race in the Census. The One city venues when he refused to certify himself as a minority/women Drop Rule is alive and well with the business enterprise (M/WBE). He sued the City of Austin and Fine Host Census. I am going to leave that Corporation (which terminated Mr. Goode’s contract), but his case has been question blank. It’s just none of dismissed by the lower courts because they contend that Mr. Goode caused his own injury by their business,” said Mr. Connerly. not playing along with the racial classification scheme set up by the city. “I urge all Americans to do the same.” (MONTGOMERY COUNTY, MD) – In March 2000, the U.S. Supreme Court rejected an appeal by Montgomery County and upheld an October 1999 ruling by the U.S. Fourth Cir- In addition to honoring Mr. Connerly, representatives of several cuit Court of Appeals that invalidated Montgomery’s race- multiracial activist groups criticized based admissions program after 7-year-old Jacob Eisenberg was the intrusive race questions on Cen- denied access to a math-and-science magnet program due to the Montgomery sus 2000. A number of other activ- district’s concern about his “impact on [the school’s] diversity.” County ists opposing the use of race in Cen- The judges held that “a denial of transfer to African Americans or sus 2000 spoke at the press confer- other minorities on account of their race is no less unconstitutional than the ence, including , Co- denial to Jacob,” an example that “makes clear the evil of the system in place.” Chairman of the Campaign for a Said Jacob’s father Jeffrey, who also served as his attorney: “It’s clear they now have to try Color Blind America; Charles Byrd, to promote diversity in a race-neutral fashion.” editor and publisher of Interracial Voice; and James Landrith, editor (PASADENA, CA) – In February 1999, Rene Amy and four other parents filed suit against and publisher of the Multiracial Ac- the Pasadena Unified School District, challenging the District’s use of a race-based lottery tivist. system in admission to its three magnet schools. Twelve months later, U.S District Judge Mr. Byrd and Mr. Landrith seconded Dickran Tevrizian issued a strongly-worded condemnation of Mr. Connerly’s call to “abolish racial Pasadena’s race-based policy and ordered all references to race, and ethnic categories altogether.” ethnicity or gender to be completely and permanently stricken Mr. Blum highlighted the hypocrisy from the District’s policy. “By constructing a mechanism of the Clinton administration’s de- through which it can control or even influence the results of the votion to the One Drop Rule. He lottery to reflect the overall racial and ethnic composition of the noted that according to the instruc- school district, the [District] has moved beyond its obligations to tions for Census 2000 developed by provide equal opportunity to its students and to the point of trying to Pasadena the Clinton administration, “a white guarantee equal results,” wrote Judge Tevrizian. Citing a 4th Circuit mother can give birth to a black decision that struck down race preferences in a Virginia school district, he child, but a black mother cannot observed that it is “ironic that a Policy that [presumably] seeks to teach give birth to a white child.” As most young children to view people as individuals rather than members of certain racial and eth- Americans know, and as the partici- nic groups classifies those same children as members of certain racial and ethnic groups” pants in the press conference ac- (Tuttle v. Arlington County School Board). The District decided in March to appeal the knowledged, it’s time to leave such outdated, Jim Crow era policies in decision to the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals. the ash heap of history.

3 Florida update: Shifting Sands By Kevin Nguyen

hat was predicted by scaled back to only strengthen tween the Governor’s rhetoric voters are with us on these some as the “Million existing anti-discrimination and his actions: “Despite as- issues.” Mr. Cardenas is the Man March on Talla- laws. What was originally a surances that [Bush’s One same person, speaking for hassee” resulted in package to wipe out prefer- Florida legislation] keeps in- other Republican leaders if about 10,000 protesters ence policies and statutes is tact all not for the rank-and-file, who last month to demon- now arguably a retreat in the laws, the Republican governor was dismissive of the issue last strateW against changes to affir- face of minority protests and found no allies among House fall. “Why deal with an issue mative action laws and sit-ins. “Bush had planned to Democrats, who continue to that doesn’t add to a positive policies in Florida. ask lawmakers to scrap the assert that Bush is advancing equation [politically],” he said use of race and gender set- his plan in a vacuum,” re- to the St. Petersburg Times at Only weeks earlier, the asides when it comes to ported the Sun-Sentinel in a George W. Bush fundraiser Florida Cabinet voted to end awarding government con- late-March as the Governor’s in Orlando. race-based admissions. Shortly tracts in every state agency,” legislation came up for hear- after the vote, members of the explained the Miami Herald, ings and committee votes. Some of the ensuing shenani- Legislative Black Caucus “but [he] abandoned that ap- gans manipulated for maxi- lashed out. The Lakeland Led- proach last month after his “The [One Florida] plan tries mum partisan effect by the ger reported it this way: “By plan was derided in a series of to give minority businesses a Florida Democratic Party may enacting the ban, the Cabinet continued leg up in govern- public hearings as an erosion have scored them some points. did just what anti-affirmative of hard-won civil rights.” An ment contracting,” explained But, as some observers point action crusader Ward unidentified Florida Republi- the New Republic, “by creat- out, the Pied Pipers of the Connerly wanted Florida to can official confided in the ing a statewide registration preference regime will eventu- do with its universities, a fact Palm Beach Post in late-Feb- system to identify all minority ally pay the price. “This is a not lost on Connerly’s oppo- vendors and making all state- ruary: “Sometimes, the best short-term public relations nents.” The Ledger inter- thing to do is retreat.” agency heads accountable to victory for Democrats but a viewed an angry State Senator Bush, who has vowed to make long-term loser for them,” Kendrick Meek, who was de- The Governor said he still minority contracts a priority.” said an unnamed senior offi- spondent about the direction plans to end such practices in To put it in context, such data cial in the Republican Party of in which Florida was heading: agencies that report to him collection and racial classifica- Florida in the Palm Beach “We are carrying out the very directly. But, increasingly, tion schemes were rejected by Post in February. And in the mission that Ward Governor Gray end, as the St. Petersburg Connerly came to Davis (D-Califor- Times pointed out, “the the state of Florida nia) and his Repub- Democrats have no powerful to do. Why are we lican predecessor statewide voice to effectively trying to beat “We are creating a better Pete Wilson, who counter Bush or Connerly.” Ward Connerly to ordered state agen- the punch?” Florida by expanding cies to no longer Perhaps the biggest voice of track and profile all will be the voice of the The state NAACP, opportunities for people the racial identity of voter. Will the Florida Su- however, filed a state contractors; preme Court allow voters to lawsuit challenging in a race conscious, but both California decide this issue for once and the procedure un- governors success- for all? The Court is still de- der which the fully defended the ciding on the fate of the changes were ap- race-neutral, way.” race-blind policy in Florida Civil Rights Initiative proved, and a state appellate court. after hearing oral arguments administrative law —Governor from both sides on March 6. judge has issued an The zig-zag in Mr. A decision is expected some- injunction on the Bush’s policy is es- time in April or May. educational com- pecially puzzling in ponent of Governor Jeb light of a Florida Republican The fate of preferences in anti-preference activists are Bush’s “One Florida Initia- establishment that has re- Florida remains to be decided. getting mixed signals from Increasingly, reports from Tal- tive.” (At press time, a hearing Mr. Bush and his administra- cently changed its mind about on the legal challenge was the political benefit of ending lahassee demonstrate a gover- tion. “We are creating a better nor being handcuffed by the scheduled for late-April, with Florida by expanding oppor- preferences. “Democrats have a decision expected by late two issues – they oppose the maneuvers of the Black Cau- tunities for people in a race cus and by the mixed mes- spring.) conscious, but race-neutral, death penalty and they favor quotas. That does not hurt sages he and party leaders are On the contracting side of way,” Mr. Bush told the Lake- sending. Even he must be real- land Ledger [emphasis added]. us,” Al Cardenas, Florida Re- “One Florida,” an ambitious publican Party chairman, told izing that an up-or-down vote legislative package sponsored Newspaper accounts con- the Palm Beach Post in late- by the people may prove to be by the Governor has been firmed the contradiction be- February. “The majority of the clearest message of all.

4 Play Ball! By Kevin Nguyen

t is spring again, which said that “America is about that he cannot be re- means the Institute begins competition.” He was travel- lied upon to avoid its fourth year contributing ing to Florida to defend race throwing spit balls or to America’s journey to preferences. So the irony of something similar? equality. Spring also his statement, coupled with means, among other things, the baseball spring training The pro-preference America’s favorite pastime: that was gearing up all over crowd loves playing I umpire and is too baseball. Florida, prompts a creative rejoinder. What better place ready to call A few weeks ago, former than on the baseball diamond? “balk,” too ready Senator Bill Bradley, speaking to believe there is on the topic of race relations If America is about competi- sandpaper in the and spurred by events in tion, as Mr. Bradley says, why pitcher’s glove. Florida, is he, Vice President Al Gore We all know, as and so many other propo- they would ar- ACRI’s Kevin Nguyen—a true baseball aficionado nents of preferences so gue, that the content to overlook pitcher has been the spirit of compe- oppressing the batter for 400 tition when it years, always getting the ad- with opportunity comes to “race” vantage, always standing atop for native-born and foreign- and to give certain a mound so that it is never a born stars alike, some whose groups of people “level playing field.” ancestors were forcibly a “base on balls” Yet, in reality, there is a rea- brought to America from when they come places like Africa and Asia. up to bat instead son the game still attracts high of just pitching to achievers from our toughest If we truly believe America is them? Could it be neighborhoods and from for- about competition, let’s teach that he believes they eign countries torn by war, each individual to practice famine and economic strife. are not capable of and allow each individual to competing? Or, that the The game, like America her- compete. Play ball! pitcher is so untrustworthy self, is a green field teeming

“Leave My Race Alone!” continued from page 1 cent want to get rid of the “One Drop Rule,” anyone percent believe that either you In summary, Americans want boxes, despite the fact that with just one drop of “black or your family decide your to reclaim their racial privacy, getting rid of such boxes blood” or “any known black race. A mere 4 percent believe and they are tired of the might eliminate some evidence ancestry” was black. How- that this decision is the government’s intrusive race of discrimination. Surpris- ever, nearly 83 percent of government’s prerogative. questions. ingly, a majority of all racial those responding to the Zogby When asked how often the ______subgroups surveyed support poll said that the child of a government should query 1 The American Civil Rights Institute the elimination of these black and a white parent is about race, 58 percent be- would like to thank the William H. boxes.2 multi-racial. Under the One lieved it should only be on the Donner Foundation for its generous Drop rule, of course, she Census. Another 19 percent financial support of this project. Other findings in the survey would be black. would only allow such a 2 Because the number of minorities in include evidence that the query as part of an investiga- nation’s commitment to the In a similar vein, and in keep- this survey sample is so low, the exact tion into an act of discrimina- percentages are unreliable. “One Drop Rule” is finally ing with the respondents’ be- tion. waning. According to the lief in racial privacy, 85 “Americans want to reclaim their racial privacy…”

5 Message from the Chairman The Plight of the Civil Rights Establishment

“multiracial” families and Waters who urges people to the outcome for employment “multiracial” individuals. The “check the black box to ensure and contracting as well as col- most prominent challenge to that our community receives its lege admission for this simplistic system of racial share of government assis- “underrepresented minorities” classification has come from tance.” and women. Tiger Woods, the golfer who has coined the term nless you believe that gov- “One Florida” ernment should guarantee “Cablinasian” to capture the Caucasian, black, Indian and In January 1999, the American outcomes, it is difficult to Asian components of his ances- Civil Rights Coalition began its accept the One Florida try. Woods rightfully resents campaign to qualify an initia- Plan. One Florida gave the term “African American” tive (Florida Civil Rights Initia- preference advocates far more “opportunities” (prefer- because it denies him the right tive) for the Florida 2000 U to honor the other elements of Ballot that would end prefer- ences, to be honest) than they Autobiography by his background. ences in public employment, currently enjoy. Ward Connerly public contracting and public Instead of applauding Bush’s released March 2000 When several multiracial orga- education based on race, gen- efforts to help them, the tradi- nizations appealed to the U.S. der and ethnicity. Our efforts tional civil rights establishment Census Bureau to alter its sys- were opposed by the ne of the most significant attacked Bush with every trick tem of classification so that N.A.A.C.P., the Florida Legis- events in American history and gimmick they could mus- multiracial individuals would lative Black Caucus, and others was the “civil rights move- ter—sit-ins, demonstrations, not be forced to embrace the identified with the traditional ment.” What captured the and rallies, to name a few. He “one drop rule,” one would civil rights establishment. attention of the nation and, was called “Jeb Crow,” a “sell- have expected the civil rights They said they didn’t want indeed, the world was the out” (where have I heard that establishment to join the cho- FCRI on the ballot. Omoral character of that move- before?) and even a “racist” by ment—its simple call for justice rus of opponents who wanted oining forces with the op- some. But, it was clear that and freedom for all people, to bring an end to this legacy ponents of FCRI was none the attack against Jeb Bush regardless of their skin color; of the Jim Crow era. Instead, other than Governor Jeb was aimed more at his brother its use of nonviolence; and its the N.A.A.C.P. and others who Bush, who stated that George W. Bush than it was at appeal to our conscience. If profess to champion the cause FCRI would be “divisive” Jeb. It was equally clear that ever there was any doubt that of civil rights opposed the mul- and contrary to the tenets the traditional civil rights es- the traditional civil rights tiracial advocates and de- of “compassionate conserva- tablishment was once again movement has lost its moral manded that the Census J tism.” In an effort to preempt playing Democratic politics to compass, however, at least continue to count Americans FCRI, Governor Bush an- curry favor with Vice Presiden- three events of the past few with any “black” ancestry as nounced his own initiative, tial candidate Al Gore. weeks should dispel that black, no matter how such in- labeled the “One Florida Ini- doubt. dividuals might want to clas- As is customary among many tiative.” One Florida was sify themselves. So, for the of those who have anointed modeled after President 2000 Census, the “one drop themselves as representatives “One Drop Rule” Clinton’s One America Initia- rule” and the legacy of Jim of the “black community,” tive, a not-so-clever attempt to The underpinning of racial Crow are alive and well, considerable efforts were made “mend” rather than “end” segregation and Jim Crow laws thanks to the administration of to arouse the passions of black affirmative action preferences. was the “one drop” rule. Ac- President Clinton and the civil people against Governors Jeb cording to this practice, any- rights establishment. I only One feature of One Florida and George W., to register one with one drop of “black” wish they were as concerned would require the university those people to vote, and to blood was classified as black. about removing this ugly sys- system to guarantee admission deliver their votes to Demo- It did not matter if three of an tem of classification from our to the top 20% of all Florida crats in a nice little package. If individual’s grandparents were nation as they are about re- high school graduates. Given Vice President Gore is elected, Native American or “white” moving the confederate flag the number of predominantly the payoff—jobs, contracts and and only the fourth was of Af- from the capitol building of black schools in Florida, the other forms of patronage from rican descent. One drop of South Carolina. “Talented 20% plan” would this racial co-dependence— black blood was all it took to ensure that more black stu- will surely follow. consign one to the “black com- ather than working to get rid of this stupid system of dents would be admitted to munity” and there one could colleges and universities than be effectively shut off from the racial classification, the U.S. Civil Rights Commission U.S. Census Bureau has the existing admissions system rest of society. that is based on explicit prefer- Revealing why it is a govern- spent millions of tax dol- ment organization whose time In recent years, the opposition lars advertising in black ences and de facto quotas. In announcing One Florida, Gov- has come and gone—and why to this ill-conceived and out- Rneighborhoods, using as their the Congress should eliminate ernor Bush made it clear that dated practice has grown sub- spokespersons black politicians its funding—the U.S. Civil stantially, particularly among like Congresswoman Maxine his new policies would increase continued on page 8

6 The One Drop Rule: R.I.P. By Royce Van Tassell

rticle I, Section 2 of the People who would otherwise cans and certainly multiracial Constitution requires that identify themselves as a mem- Americans simply had no rel- ACRI Mail Bag the government conduct ber of a traditional minority evance to their debate. While Comments • Questions • Concerns an “enumeration” of all are those most likely to choose the federal government has persons “among the sev- the multiracial box. been able to accommodate the We would like to hear from eral States” in the Union. change from two to five racial you, the reader. For the twenty-second time in The multiracial box presented categories, upping that number A an especially enticing option Please send letters to: American history, the U.S. to sixty-three would gut them. Census Bureau is currently for black Americans, because It would simply be impossible ACRI performing this decennial virtually every American black to determine, for example, From You, the Reader... ritual. has at least one non-black an- whether a federal contractor P.O. Box 188350 cestor. As early as 1918, the had conducted sufficient out- Sacramento, CA 95818 Conducting the Census has Census Bureau estimated that reach to minority contractors. Or email: [email protected] always been, and will always at least three-fourths of Ameri- For enforcement purposes, the be, a political issue. Its results can blacks were racially mixed. federal enforcement agencies To order previous publications of determine which states gain With the end of legal prohibi- would have to collapse many The Egalitarian contact Caroline congressional seats, and which tions against interracial mar- of these categories. Kreling, at 916-444-2278 or visit states lose them. Just as impor- riages in 1967, the likelihood our website at www.acri.org. tant, its results determine the of any “pure” blacks has Predictably, there was a lot of party alignment of the House dropped to virtually nil. hand-wringing over how to of Representatives, and all avoid collapsing the sixty-three Do you know anyone who is state legislative houses. In a series of hearings in 1993, categories into a more manage- interested in the elimination of and again in 1997, the minor- able five when enforcing the racial and gender preferences? Nevertheless, the political fight ity rights’ establishment pre- civil rights laws. They did not surrounding Census 2000 has vented the addition of a Do you know anyone who want to admit that allowing believes in equal opportunity and been, and will continue to be, multiracial box. Instead, they people to check as many boxes more divisive than any other in convinced the Clinton adminis- true equality for all Americans? as they pleased was really a Help us spread the message. recent memory. The most divi- tration to allow people to se- sham. On March 9 of this sive controversy centers on the lect as many racial boxes as Please use the enclosed envelope year, however, the Clinton ad- and mail names and addresses role of “race”. Beginning in they wanted. In acceding to the ministration admitted that it 1993, representatives of minority rights establishment, of individual(s) you feel may be would, in fact, collapse all but interested in receiving future America’s multiracial popula- the Clinton administration the largest categories. tion began lobbying for guaranteed that the “One issues of The Egalitarian. You changes in the racial categories Drop” rule for racial classifica- Not only will the One Drop may also email your submissions available for Census 2000. tion would prevail. rule apply to the descendants to [email protected]. Rather than being forced to of slaves, but to every other choose one parent over an- In allowing every person to minority group with enough check as many categories as other, or to become a demean- political clout to get their own Special Thanks ing “Other,” these activists they want, the Census Bureau racial box. Enforcement agen- Special thanks to the following proposed a “Multiracial” box. created 63 racial categories. cies will reclassify any person for financially and generously Many of these racial categories who selects white and some supporting the effort to eliminate While superficially a simple would have very few members, minority group (black, Asian, racial preferences: acknowledgement that many but the Census Bureau had Native American, or Native Americans did not fit into the committed to count them. Hawaiian and other Pacific Census Bureau’s five standard Gerard Connors Putting people into more Islander) as a member of the Gary Fillmore racial categories, the multira- minority group. cial box represented a huge rather than fewer boxes ap- Leroy Hansen political threat to the minority pears to move away from It is long past time to put an Ken Haynes rights establishment. They had America’s historic devotion to end to America’s legacy of ra- MJ Hornik benefited greatly from the the One Drop rule. Checking cial classification. The die has Clarence Howes Leonard Jackson government’s devotion to the multiple boxes does allow been cast for Census 2000, but Douglas Kammerer One Drop rule. According to people to define their racial the debate is far from over. Michael A. Keys this rule, anyone with even one identity with greater precision. The outrage that Americans Art Nicholson drop of black blood, or one However, taking a snapshot of have expressed in being forc- Larry Nones black ancestor, is black. These America pales in importance to ibly categorized should serve Yugve Olsen groups base their political the role that the Census data notice to the racial bean Joseph Rosania power on a claim to represent plays in enforcing the nation’s counters that this will not be Edward E. Singleton millions of minorities in civil rights laws. part of the next Census count. Beckie Snow America. The One Drop rule The One Drop rule is on its The nation’s civil rights laws Susan Thompson guarantees that they retain a were forged in an era when the last breath. May it rest in large constituent base. The only relevant racial categories peace. Extra Special Thanks: multiracial box threatened to were black and white. Asians, Quentin & Mara Kopp Foundation dilute their constituent base. “Hispanics”, Native Ameri- 7 AROUNDX THEX NATION Message from the Chairman continued from page 6

What They Said… Rights Commission elbowed its way into Quotes about the general the One Florida controversy by attacking subject of race and affirmative not only Governor Bush’s “Talented 20” action, specifically. plan but also the top 10% plan supported by Governor George Bush in Texas. he common denominator for support- “We have pursued equality in education “This generation is looking for an issue. ing the continuation of the “one more by engineering unequals into insti- They’re looking for a reason to march.” drop” rule by the Census, opposing tutions than by insisting on their devel- Rep. Chris Smith, D-Fort Lauderdale, One Florida, and opposing the “Tal- opment to parity with others. We have FL, referring to student protests against ented 20” as well as the 10% plan in conceived of equality as mere ‘inclusion’ Florida Governor Jeb Bush’s “One Texas: political power for the tradi- rather than as an equality of skills be- Florida” attempt to end race prefer- Ttional civil rights establishment. The trag- tween the races. And this engineering ences. edy is that while these people play their works by one all-important mechanism: political games, “multiracial” people are a tolerance for levels of academic medi- “You do not take away anything from the forced to accept a government-imposed ocrity in blacks and Hispanics that is African American community and not system of classification that is inaccurate rarely tolerated in whites and Asians. give anything back.” and insulting; poor kids are trapped in The racial preference is simply a willing- Rev. Richard Bennett, director, Liberty lousy inner city schools because of a failed system of racial preferences; and others ness to tolerate more mediocrity in City Ministerial Alliance in Florida. are being discriminated against in the in- some races than in others.” [Ed. Note: This evidences how much affirmative action preferences have be- terest of achieving “diversity.” Shelby Steele, Fellow, Hoover Institu- come a racial spoils system and why the Let me sign off by thanking the hundreds tion ballot initiative and the courts are the only effective means of ending prefer- of ACRI supporters who have donated “The very underrepresented students you ences.] $100 or more in order to receive a signed want are most likely the ones you will copy of my new autobiography, Creating Equal: My Fight Against Race Preferences. no longer get because they will be com- “I think that we are created equal. And I am very mindful of the fact that you peting against huge numbers of white for me to say a particular group is not could purchase this book for considerably and Asian students. The rug has been equal to me, and because of that I’m less by going to your local bookstore or to pulled out from under their feet…The going to offer something to get them on the Internet. We all know that you are bottom line is nothing can substitute for the same level as me, I have problems paying this inflated price to help us carry race and ethnicity. There really is a lim- with that. That’s bigotry.” out our mission, and we are profoundly ited number of criteria you can use to Rep. Ken Littlefield, R-Dade County, FL grateful. admit students. We can only tinker with the bottom line.” “Should we keep a system (affirmative Rae Lee Siporin, UCLA Admissions action) that numbers show has failed Director, referring to the elimination of miserably just because there’s an emo- preferences based on race and ethnicity tional attachment to it?” in California. [Ed. Note: Ms. Siporin’s Ward Connerly statement is a very revealing commen- State Senator Mario Diaz Balart, tary about the extent to which race was R-Miami, FL ACRI Chairman used by UCLA in the past to engineer “the bottom line.” The poor educrat can now only “tinker.” Tsk! Tsk!]

P.O. Box 188350 Chairman Director of Federal Sacramento, CA 95818 Non-Profit Org. Ward Connerly and State Affairs U.S. Postage Kevin Nguyen Vice Chairman P A I D Thomas L. Rhodes Contributors Sacramento CA The Ronald Reagan Permit No.3521 Director of Presidential Administration Foundation Caroline Kreling

Director of Research Royce Van Tassell

Associate Robyn Miller