What The Heck is "Equality" Anyway?

iStockphoto.com

Okay, here's a thought. Is "equality" between blacks and whites, men and women, and... well, between anyone really the goal of civil rights policy? What does it even mean to be equal?

When we talk about equality, we're often talking about two things. One is, according to our Constitution, the concept that "all men are created equal." The other concept is equality of opportunity, which has to do with issues like educational equity.

Let me go to the second issue first. Today on our show we took a few different cuts on the issue of equality.

First we spoke with Ward Connerly, who's successfully pushed to end race and gender based admissions and hiring programs. After transforming the political landscape in states including California and Michigan, he's now targeted five more states for ballot initiatives. (We got a bit salty with each other, too. Take a listen.)

We also spoke with Shanta Driver of By Any Means Necessary, which is a coalition battling Connerly's organization. She argues that black and Latino students, among others, have lost ground.

So, take a listen for yourself. Is ending race and gender-based affirmative action fair, or does it prevent long-term educational equality?

(For some historical background, check out our conversation today with three men whose families were involved in a court case that helped launch "Brown v. Board," the case that legally desegregated schools.)

Okay, let's get to the second point. Are people actually "equal?" The question hinges on whether "equal" means "same."

It's clear that we all bring different gifts to the world, and have different struggles. You can be born rich, poor, with physical challenges, and on and on and on. So when advocates call for equality, do they really mean that we should all end up in the same place? That, for example, all people should have a college education? (That's an argument I heard from analysts from the powerful Gates Foundation.) Or do they mean we should all have the same chance to do these things?

We don't always make these distinctions when we talk about equality, and maybe that's one reason -- just one among many -- that we still find ourselves fighting with each other instead of fighting to make things better.

Farai Chideya

Tags: civil rights

5:05 PM ET | 01-31-2008 | permalink

comments | | e-mail