ROLE OF THE BLACK CHURCH IN ENFORCING OF AFFIRMATIVE ACTION LAWS

Published in the 6/21/05 online edition of The Christian Recorder
“My ministry advocates a free, strong, secure, stable, and prosperous America -- assured of a first class, quality workforce that is second to none.” -- Dr. Arthur Allen Fletcher

On behalf of Wachovia Corporation, I apologize to all Americans, and especially to African-Americans and people of African descent…We are deeply saddened by these findings.” -- Ken Thompson, Chairman and CEO Wachovia

By Stephanie and Eric Stradford

The Christian Recorder, June 21, 2005, Philadelphia, PA – In an era when the United States Senate has publicly apologized for lynching thousands of African-Americans and compliance officers face daily combat on fair hiring and fair contracting, the Father of the Affirmative Action Enforcement Movement is returning to Philadelphia to bring business, government, educational and faith-leaders face to face with their history and its impact on America’s economy.

Dr. Arthur Allen Fletcher introduced The Revised Philadelphia Plan as a test case for the most forceful plan in the United States to guarantee fair hiring practices in the construction industry. The former Assistant Secretary of Wage and Labor Standards for the Nixon Administration is leading a national campaign for economic security. Philadelphia City officials praised Fletcher’s efforts and energy as “timely” and “appropriate.” The elder statesman will meet with business owners, community and economic development professionals, and faith leaders on existing economic resources available in the Philadelphia Federal Reserve Region. U.S. corporations, faith and government leaders were at first slow to respond to Fletcher’s call for “a free, strong, secure, stable, and prosperous America -- assured of a first class, quality workforce that is second to none.” But recent apologies by the U.S. Senate and Wachovia Bank suggests that “business as usual” is today a practice of the past.

“On behalf of Wachovia Corporation, I apologize to all Americans, and especially to African-Americans and people of African descent,” said Ken Thompson, Wachovia chairman and chief executive officer. “We are deeply saddened by these findings. We know that we cannot change the past, and we can’t make up for the wrongs of slavery,” said Thompson. “But we can learn from our past, and begin a stronger dialogue about slavery and the experience of African-Americans in our country.”

The Richard Allen Foundation and Free African Society (FAS) has held a series of meetings with Wachovia on their record of contracting of historically disadvantaged entrepreneurs and have joined Dr. Fletcher and responsible corporate co-sponsors in modeling community economic empowerment to the Philadelphia region. FAS sojourns to Philadelphia each November to mark the historic 1787 “Liberation Sunday” when Free Africans established a parallel “values-based” economy in the United States. Richard Allen, who co-founded FAS, later established the African Methodist Episcopal Church. A hundred years later, WEB DuBois’ The Philadelphia Negro – A Social Study provided an intellectual foundation at the University of Pennsylvania for valuing human capital.

According to Dr. Fletcher, he selected Philadelphia as the test case because, "The craft unions and the construction industry were among the most egregious offenders against equal opportunity laws . . . openly hostile toward letting Blacks into their closed circle." The order included definite "goals and timetables”...not quotas. The first official reference to affirmative action took place on March 6, 1961, Executive Order 10925 by President John F. Kennedy. On July 2, 1964, the Civil Rights Act was signed by President Lyndon B. Johnson. Sept. 24, 1965 Executive Order 11246 attempted to enforce affirmative action for the first time by requiring government contractors to take affirmative action toward prospective minority employees in all aspects of hiring and employment. Oct. 13, 1967, the order was amended to cover discrimination on the basis of gender.

It was not until 1969 that Dr. Arthur A. Fletcher, during the administration of President Richard Nixon, conceived of and implemented the most forceful plan in history. As President Nixon asserted, "We would not impose quotas, but would require federal contractors to show affirmative action to meet the goals of increasing minority employment." The Wharton School of Business has published more than 25 studies on the subject of affirmative action. One zealous graduate student who attended The Wharton School from 1965-69 spearheaded a study. Today, Dr. Bernard E. Anderson serves as Whitney Young Term Professor; Practice Professor of Management, The Wharton School, and was the first African-American to be awarded tenure.

Dr. Fletcher, a former pro football player, presidential appointee, historian, lecturer and ordained minister, has championed affirmative action for more than 60 years. He served as one of five African American appointees in the Nixon and later served in the Ford Administration as well. He has since consulted the Republican National Committee and served as a former delegate to the United Nations. Dr. Fletcher has been a candidate for public office for an Assembly seat for the California State Legislature (1962), for Lt. Governor of the State of Washington (1968), and for Mayor of the District of Columbia (1978). He is married to Bernyce Fletcher, a native of Philadelphia.