188188 Chapter 5 | Civil RightsCivil Rights Issues Today
Today, there is vigorous debate among proponents of three main perspectives over
the likely direction of the civil rights movement in the twenty-first century. The first
group, whose views are articulated by such scholars as Stephan Thernstrom of Harvard
University and Abigail Thernstrom of the Manhattan Institute, has suggested that our
nation must “move beyond race.” This group argues that on many social and economic
indicators the gap between blacks and whites has narrowed and that public opposition
to race-based policies indicates the need for a new approach. The Supreme Court has
largely endorsed this view by implementing a color-blind jurisprudence over a broad
range of issues. The second group is represented by traditional civil rights activists and
groups such as the Congressional Black Caucus and the NAACP; it argues that the civil
rights movement must continue to fight for equal opportunity by enforcing existing law
and pushing for equality of outcomes through protecting and expanding affirmative
action programs and other policies that address racial inequality. Black Lives Matter,
while not a traditional civil rights organization because of its decentralized structure,
fits into this category with its fight for racial equality in the criminal justice system.
These first two groups share the goal of racial equality and integration but differ on
how much progress we have made and how to make further progress. The third group
does not support the goal of integration; instead, activists such as Louis Farrakhan and
the Nation of Islam argue for African-American self-sufficiency and separation. They
believe that African Americans can never gain equality within what they see as the
repressive, white-dominated economic and political system.
Most civil rights advocates endorse the second view. They argue that it would be a
mistake to conclude that the work of the civil rights movement is complete. They point to
the resegregation of public schools, persistent gaps between whites and racial minorities
in health and economic status, racial profiling, hate crimes, a backlash against immigrant
groups, and continuing discrimination in employment and housing. At the same time,
this group rejects calls for racial separation as shortsighted and self-defeating.
The other two groups would argue that although the traditional civil rights agenda
made important contributions to racial equality, further progress will require a different
approach. Advocates of the color-blind approach prefer to stop making distinctions
between people based on race. They want to use government policies to make sure
there is no overt discrimination and to provide equal opportunity for all, and then let
merit decide outcomes. The segregationists have given up on the civil rights agenda and
believe that minorities can achieve success only on their own. Debates among advocates
of these three views play out over a broad range of issues, several of which are outlined
in the last section of this chapter.Affirmative Action
The Civil Rights Act of 1964 ensured that, at least on paper, all Americans would
enjoy equality of opportunity. But even after the act was passed, blacks continued to
lag behind whites in socioeconomic status; there was still a substantial gap between
the equality of opportunity and the equality of outcomes. In an important speech at
Howard University in 1965, President Johnson outlined his argument for affirmative
action, saying, “This is the next and the more profound stage of the battle for civil
rights.... We seek not just legal equity but human ability, not just equality as a right and
a theory but equality as a fact and equality as a result.... To this end equal opportunity
is essential, but not enough, not enough.”^100 Later that year, Johnson attempted toEXAMINE AFFIRMATIVE
ACTION AND OTHER ONGOING
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