(Elje Jlortlanò (Oharruer celebrates Black History Month
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February 26. 2003
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Code Words Used in Affirmative Action Debate
Anti-black words
and phrases infect
discourse about race
by
For example, why does one never see this
phrase’sequivalent-“even some” Italian Ameri
cans, Jewish Americans, Asian Americans,
etc.-used to define the boundaries of any other
American ethnic group's views about anything
or bolster or attack one side of the dispute?
Why is it used that way with African-Ameri-
cans-and particularly by people who will then go
on to declare their preference for “color-blind
ness” when it comes to redressing racial wrongs
of the past and the present?
H ugh B. P rice
The Supreme Court’s decision to consider
affirmative action in higher education has pro
duced a particular phrase I’ve seen in several
recent news articles and opinion columns.
They' ve noted that “even some black people”
oppose affirmative action. I expect that we’ II all
be reminded of that more and more in the
coming months.
Yes, it is true that “some” African Ameri
cans oppose affirmative action - especially
when the concept and practice are defined in
ways that imply “unqualified" blacks are getting
something for nothing. But the most revealing
thing about the use of this phrase is that those
who put the fact forward never say what it
actually means.
They can’t. This is code language that im
plies an entire dictionary of old, negative as
sumptions and assertions about African Ameri
cans. As with all of the code words and phrases
Another question: Why should it be particu
larly noteworthy, much less a surprise, that
“some” blacks oppose affirmative action?
After all, “even some blacks” opposed the
civil rights movement of the 1950s and 1960s.
Hugh B. Price
Those who use the code that “even
some blacks ” oppose affirmative action
depend upon covering up a great many
facts that surround the issue.
of bigotry, this phrase’s power lies in the fact
that its true meanings aren’t made explicit.
Indeed, the meanings can’t be explicitly stated,
or else the writer’s position would lose any
semblance of respectability. That was the “pub-*
lie relations" mistake Senator Trent Lott made.
N onetheless, num erous anti-black code.
— Hugh B. Price, president of the National Urban League
words and phrases still infect the American
discourse about race. This phrase - “even
blacks”- is one of them. One need only
ask a series of questions to uncover the perni
cious attitudes behind it.
It’s often easier
to pick out the
vehicle . . .
by
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Yes, these currently fashionable assertions have
also been around a long time.
For exam ple, a Gallup Poll conducted in
May 2001 found that 57 percent of blacks
thought affirm ative action program s should
be increased, and another 28 percent felt
their current scope was ju st about right. In
my book, that adds up to an 85-percent level
of support for affirm ative action. The G allup
survey found that 8 percent of African Am eri
cans thought affirm ative action programs
should be decreased.
The great historian Barbara W. Tuchman
wrote in an essay for her 1991 book, "Practicing
History: Selected Essays,” words about the
craft of history that are relevant here. “Leaving
things out because they do not fit," she declared,
“is writing fiction, not history.”
Certainly, those who use the code that “even
some blacks" oppose affirmative action depend
upon covering up a great many facts that sur
round the issue. Perhaps the most revealing
thing they never acknowledge is the fact that
mirrors it on the other side of the color line. That
is, that “even some whites,” who have chosen
not to deny the past and the present, or hide from
the future, support affirmative action.
Hugh B. Price is president of the National
Urban League, a leading civil rights organiza
tion.
Racial Bias in Death Penalty Cases .
than the financing!
Serving all who live, work, worship or attend school
They argued that the movement was fostering
an attitude in blacks of seeing themselves as
victims and stoking resentment among whites.
Further, why do those who employ the phrase
never cite any statistics defining African Ameri
cans’ views on the issue? Part of the answer
lies in the overwhelming support African Ameri
cans as a group continually express for affirma
tive action.
in the
Portland communities o f Arbor Lodge, Boise. Bridgeton, Buckman north o f S.E
Hawthorne, Cathedral Park. China Town, Concordia west o f N.E. 33"1 Avenue,
Concordia University, Downtown Portland, East Columbia, Goose Hollow,
Humboldt. Irvington west o f N.E. 17th Avenue, Kerns, King west o f N.E. 24th
Avenue, La u re lh u rstw e slo fN E 32nd Avenue, Northwest Portland. Northwest
Industrial Portland, O ld Town, Overlook, Pearl District, Piedmont, Portland
D avid E lliot
Attorney General John Ashcroft has dramati
cally stepped up efforts to seek federal death
sentences, and is now frequently demanding that
his local prosecutors seek a death sentence when
the defendant is black, Latino or Native Ameri
can.
Since taking office two years ago, Ashcroft
has overturned local U.S. district attorneys’ de
cisions not to seek the death penalty 28 times. Of
these 28 “overrides,” two involved suspects who
are white, 23 involved suspects who are black.
Latino or Native American, and three involved
suspects whose race could not be determined.
Ashcroft also has directed prosecutors to seek
death sentences in states that do not have a death
penalty. Last year, a death sentence was handed
down in Michigan, which has not had a death
penalty in 150 years.
In addition, officials currently are seeking
death sentences in Massachusetts, Vermont and
Washington, D.C. and have contemplated seek
ing death sentences in Rhode Island, Hawaii and
Puerto Rico. Not one of these jurisdictions has »
state death penalty.
Since 1976. when executions were allowed to
resume in the United States, the death penalty
largely has been a province of the states.
Of the approximately 3,500 people cur
rently under sentence of death, only 33 are on
federal and military death rows, with the re
mainder residing on state death rows. O f the
831 people executed since 1976, 829 were
executed by the states and two by the federal
government.
David Elliot is communications director for
the National Coalition to Abolish the Death
Penalty.
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The failure of Ballot Measure 28 is not the end,
nor a failure. It is more an opportunity, a begin
ning.
We need to set aside divisive arguments and
acknowledge most voters want the same things.
We all agree that funding education and other
vital services should be a priority. The “No” vote
does not argue that. Those in opposition want our
legislators to demonstrate the budget is being
managed effectively and non-essential programs
are being cut first.
The “Yes" vote doesn’t suggest anyone wants
more taxes. Those in favor simply carry an
intense desire to save education and vital services
for the disadvantaged and the elderly and (hope
fully) want time to develop and implement a
permanent, stabilized squrce of funding.
I firmly believe we can have both. The results
ot this vote should be a catalyst for us all to take
part in effecting a change. Write, e-mail or call
your legislators and let them know what you
want. They all have a fiduciary responsibility to
represent our interests, second to their individual
agendas.
We cannot afford to make it “their problem.”
It is our problem. If we do nothing, we get what
we deserve.
A solution for public education might include
a repeal of Ballot Measure 5, returning control and
funding to the local level. It may require a sales
tax.
I know how unpopular that idea has been
historically but the package has never included
critical relief elements for other taxes. It should
include a reduction of personal income taxes and
a cap on capital gains, exempt food and medicines
and require a majority vote prior to any increases.
These aren't necessarily the answers but it is
painfully evident our current system is not work
ing for us.
The time has come to have a serious discus
sion about viable options, convert that discussion
to action items for our legislators and hold the
legislators accountable for delivering results.
Results we want and our children and disadvan
taged citizens deserve.
Terry Shanley
Southwest Portland
I