Affirmative action in the military has thrived under both Republican and Democratic administrations. Retired General Colin Powell, US Army, quoted in the Atlanta Journal-Constitution, October 31, 2000
The words that head this space were spoken in response to the Reverend Jesse Jackson's concerns regarding Retired General Colin Powell's endorsement of George W. Bush for president. The Republican Party seeks to end affirmative action, yet it was affirmative action that helped promote Powell to the rank of general. Go figure.
If I could put a question to the ex-chairperson of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, it would be the following: General Powell, since you recognise the need for affirmative action in the military, how is it that you do not recognize that same need in civilian life as well?
I am reminded that it was affirmative action that also positioned Clarence Thomas for a seat on the Supreme Court of the United States. Alas, nowadays, Justice Thomas, the only African-American on the bench, routinely votes against affirmative action as if racism is dead in America. We should not be surprised that it was George W. Bush's father who nominated Thomas for that seat.
What is surprising is the ease with which the Thomases and Powells of this generation forget that affirmative action is the bridge that brought them over a sea of racism. The Reverend Jesse Jackson was right to sarcastically ask, [w]hat was good for [Thomas and Powell] would not be good for the next generation?
BY BRANDON ASTOR JONES
[The writer is a prisoner on death row in the United States. He welcomes letters commenting on his columns (include your name and full return address on the envelope, or prison authorities may refuse to deliver it). He can be written to at: Brandon Astor Jones, EF-122216, G3-77, Georgia Diagnostic & Classification Prison, PO Box 3877, Jackson, GA 30233, USA, or email <BrandonAstorJones@hotmail.com>. Jones is seeking a publisher for his autobiography, Growing Down. Please notify him of any possible leads. Visit Jones' web page at <http://www.BrandonAstorJones.com>.]