California Proposition 54
Basics
Ward Connerly's deceptively titled "Racial Privacy Initiative" or CRECNO (Classification by Race, Ethnicity, Color or National Origin) Initiative" has been placed on the 10/7/03 special election ballot for the Gray Davis recall. This is actually an anti-democratic Information Ban initiative, one that would forbid public agencies to collect information about the race or ethnicity of Californians for almost any purpose -- & which would thereby sabotage law enforcement reforms, vital public health programs, schools accountability & civil rights enforcement. Before you vote, be sure to consider both sides carefully, & take a look at who is supporting the measure & who opposes it!
On the Web: Articles
New Book Challenges Call for Color-Blind Society. Jennifer McNulty, UCSC Currents (9/15/03). Review of Michael K. Brown & David Wellman, Whitewashing Race: The Myth of a Colorblind Society.
The Last Word. Woody West, Insight on the News (8/4/03). For a glimpse at some Republican arguments in favor of this measure.
Ballot Measure Name Dispute. Katherine Corcoran, San Jose Mercury News (7/27/03).
Regents Publicly Denounce CRECNO. Thomas Neeley, University of California San Diego Guardian (5/22/03). Connerly is a member of the UC Board of Regents, & was successful in putting across his anti-affirmative action measure there a few years back. This time the vote was 15 to 3 against his proposal.
University of California Regents' Discussion Materials on the Proposition.
On the Web: Specialized Sites
American Civil Liberties Union of Northern California (ACLU-NC).
American Civil Liberties Union of San Diego & Imperial Counties.
American Civil Liberties Union of Southern California (ACLU-SC).
Coalition for an Informed California. See "Articles" for links to critical press coverage.
Defeat 54. The "no on 54" campaign.
Racial Privacy. The "yes on 54" campaign.
In the Library: Articles
In the Library: Non-Fiction Books
Brown, Michael K.; Martin Carnoy, Elliott Currie, Troy Duster, David B. Oppenheimer, Marjorie M. Shultz & David Wellman. Whitewashing Race : The Myth of a Color-Blind Society (Berkeley: U. California, 2003).
In the Library: Fiction