With the votes counted and the debates over, the legacy of affirmative action in California has headed in a new direction. The battle for the implementation of the so-called California Civil Rights Initiative has moved to the courts. Supporters and foes of the initiative are jockeying for positions that will win them the favor of the judge deciding the legality of the CCRI. But there’s more to the issue of equality and fairness in this country. The fight over Proposition 209 may serve as a microcosm of how race can divide and conquer our faith in moral justice in America.

What started out as an effort to correct past discrimination, affirmative action has become a political tool in echoing the sentiments of different groups and their attitudes about opportunity in America. Our politicians have used affirmative action to reaffirm the fears of the white middle class, and it has worked. The suburbanites have expressed their concerns to government officials about their children’s chances of attending college and being denied employment because of their race. Without skipping a beat, the politicians have responded, and affirmative action and other programs that promote equal opportunity are now being reviewed. But why did this surge in national opinion attract so much attention in 1996?

It happened for a number of reasons. First, it was an election year and afforded many people a chance to voice their opinions on key issues. Second, we are living in an age where white Americans no longer feel responsible for the past discrimination of their parents and grandparents. Many feel the government has done enough and should take the “training wheels” off the black consciousness in order to help blacks achieve parity with other Americans. Some whites also do not see why they should subsidize the education and social services benefits of immigrants, either.

Unsurprisingly, most minorities will disagree with these views. African-Americans, for the most part, still feel our government needs to do more to help the condition of inner-city residents many of whom are black. And some blacks even feel that America owes them reparations, which they can use to fight against the ever-present structural racism that exists in our institutions. Latinos don’t want to turn back the clock on the progress they have made in business, education and government. Minorities, including women, will point to examples such as the Texaco incident to validate their support for affirmative action.

In the Texaco case, blacks were allegedly referred to as “porch monkeys,” “black jelly beans” and other derogatory names. It took several lawsuits and a tape recording of company executives degrading blacks to warrant national attention. One might think that with evidence like this, Proposition 209 proponents would reconsider its full effect. This doesn’t seem likely.

One of the most visible divisions of race was shown in the criminal trial of O.J. Simpson. As I sat in front of my television to receive the verdict, something told me Simpson would be let off the hook. But for Simpson, and the nation, the jury’s decision was bittersweet. Public opinion about the Juice’s guilt seemed to be divided along racial lines. Snapshots from across the country showed blacks cheering the verdict while whites stood in sorrow and disbelief. The trial was seen as vindication by black Americans who, on that rare occasion, saw the pendulum of justice swing their way.

As for Proposition 209, its passage was never in doubt. The only uncertainty was how much impact it would have on social justice in years to come. Sure, affirmative action should be changed. Our lawmakers should develop a program that will help people with low incomes (a group that consists mainly of minorities). But then, even that kind of assistance will be criticized by civil rights opponents for continuing to aid the very people they were trying to pull the rug out from under.

Because they live in different cultural worlds, blacks and whites may agree very little on what should be done to make up for past discrimination. This is expected. Most whites can’t see why blacks just can’t get over what has happened in the past, and most blacks can’t see how whites can ignore the seemingly obvious racism in this country. What they may agree on is the lack of compromise each side is willing to show.

Altie Holcomb is a sociology sophomore and writes a biweekly Wednesday column for The Daily Aztec.