Uncle James' no-nonsense, no-complaining allowed upbringing, combining love with hard work, instilled in Ward a highly disciplined work ethic that went counter to the affirmative action mentality. Ward reminisces that if Uncle James had lived long enough to hear someone tell him to "celebrate diversity," he would have shot them a withering look.
Ward Connerly, best known for taking on affirmative action beginning in 1996 with California's Proposition 209, recently came out with a second book, "Lessons from Uncle James," which profiles Ward's Uncle James, who raised him like a son. It was Uncle James's parenting that planted the seeds in Ward that ultimately led to his crusade against affirmative action. Uncle James' no-nonsense, no-complaining allowed upbringing, combining love with hard work, instilled in Ward a highly disciplined work ethic that went counter to the affirmative action mentality.
The short book is beautifully written in the same elegant and powerful speaking style for which Ward is known, pulling the reader in for a quick read that flows more like easy-to-read fiction than non-fiction. There are fascinating parallels to "My Grandfather's Son," by Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas, who was raised by his strict grandfather. Although both Ward and Justice Thomas were not raised by their paternal fathers, they were fortunate enough to have a relative provide that important father role sadly missing in many black families today.
Click here to read the rest of the article at Parcbench
Recent Comments