The conventions that govern America's racial discourse derive from the odious "one drop" rule. According to it, anyone with any admixture of black ancestry -- one drop of black "blood" -- is black. So, Connerly is an African American. One of his grandparents was of African descent, one was Irish, a third was Irish and American Indian, and the fourth was French Canadian. Two of the grandchildren of Connerly and his Irish wife have a Vietnamese mother. Are these grandchildren African Americans?
Not if they don't want to be.
Will is trying to gin up support for five anti-racial justice referendums championed by Connerly. He says
The crux of the Missouri Civil Rights Initiative (MoCRI) would amend that state's constitution to say: "The state shall not discriminate against, or grant preferential treatment to, any individual or group on the basis of race, sex, color, ethnicity or national origin in the operation of public employment, public education or public contracting."
In this "crux" left out the important part.
unless such programs are necessary to establish or maintain eligibility for federal funding
Assuming that Will is correct (*gag*) this means they can discriminate when the Feds pay them to. Nice morality you got there, Will. The ballot language in Missouri suggested by their Secretary of State is far more accurate.
"Shall the Missouri Constitution be amended to: Ban affirmative action programs designed to eliminate discrimination against, and improve opportunities for, women and minorities in public contracting, employment and education; and allow preferential treatment based on race, sex, color, ethnicity, or national origin to meet federal program funds eligibility standards as well as preferential treatment for bona fide qualifications based on sex?"
But the initiative cannot pass if it's true effect is known. That's why local supporters say it will not destroy efforts to end discrimination
MoCRI supporters went to court, arguing that the two Democrats' "explanation" of their amendment is couched in language that is "convoluted, ambiguous and muddled" and is "prejudicial, conclusory and untrue." They said that banning racial discrimination in the form of racial preferences does not ban programs to eliminate discrimination.
Just discrimination against Black people.
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