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Ok time tô talk Affirmative Action in Nebraska. Of course we have to start with the annoying truth that Nebraska loves to be behind in everything. We are 1 of only 8 states that has BANNED affirmative action...
California, Washington, Michigan, Nebraska, Arizona, Oklahoma, Florida and New Hampshire. Here is an article that digs into commonalities between these states and their bans. https://www.google.com/amp/s/www.brookings.edu/blog/brown-center-chalkboard/2019/04/12/why-might-states-ban-affirmative-action/amp/
Nebraska, like 6 of these states, banned affirmative action through voter referendum (ballot initiative). The language was clever as to frame affirmative action as the discriminatory act, as opposed to the truth, which is affirmative action prevents discrimination...
Initiative 424, proposed a constitutional amendment which would prohibit discriminating against, or granting 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
On its face, this would look progressive and moral. In reality, all harm. Here’s an article that talks about the impact of affirmative action bans https://feed.georgetown.edu/access-affordability/what-happens-when-states-ban-affirmative-action/
Now you can start to see why racial equity without affirmative action is almost a nonstarter. Especially in Omaha, where we are still known as one of the most segregated cities in the country.
I would be remiss if I didn’t make the point that your vote for unicameral candidates is so important to this effort of lifting the ban on affirmative action. Omaha City Council and County Board both passed resolutions saying they would approve of affirmative action...
But they have no real power to institute or lift the ban. (This was really a ploy by these bodies to shift the racial equity conversation away from themselves, but I’m glad we have them on the record)
Take a look at the most recent conversation on affirmative action here: https://omaha.com/news/local/govt-and-politics/no-vote-this-year-but-efforts-to-repeal-nebraskas-affirmative-action-ban-will-continue/article_769c597a-63b9-5126-978e-82316c957064.html
As mentioned in the article, @JustinTWayne has championed this fight in the legislature, but to bring it back he is going to need all of our support. To be fair, rural senators may not feel the urgency around this work like urban senators...
Our job is to explain that with affirmative action, communities of color are able to participate in our economy in a way that elevates EVERYONE!
Affirmative action impacts every issue in the state. Recruitment and retention of YPs, access to capital for everyone (the main beneficiaries of affirmative action being white women), entrepreneurship, homeownership, college enrollment...
Affirmative action is the first step to ensuring a strong foundation for racial equity because without this systemic solution, equity is dependent on people’s good will. Personally, that doesn’t work for me.
Here is a myth buster article on affirmative action: https://www.upstate.edu/diversityinclusion/policies-and-procedures/aa/myth_reality.php
Here are some fast facts about affirmative action: https://www.google.com/amp/s/amp.cnn.com/cnn/2013/11/12/us/affirmative-action-fast-facts/index.html
If we are going to take racial equity seriously in Nebraska, we have to be honest about the impact the ban has had on the state. I hope you will join me and so many others in advocating for this necessary legislation!
