Ward Connerly on Malcolm X, equality vs. equity, and the Biden presidency

The Invisible Men

In this episode, Ian and Nique are joined by Ward Connerly — a former member of the Board of Regents at the University of California, owner of a family business, and a self-described “child of the color-blind God.” Ward began his work in the public square early as the student body president of California State University in Sacramento, where he fought against housing discrimination and contributed toward the passing of the Rumford Fair Housing Act. From there, a career of accomplishment in the private sector, and periodic work with former California Governor Pete Wilson, paved the way for Ward’s appointment to the University of California Board of Regents. It was here that Ward first learned about affirmative action, which he quickly recognized as a violation of the civil rights movement and the constitution. Ward was instrumental in banning several forms of race-based discrimination across the state of California in the 1990s, and he continues to fight for equality under the law today.

Ward shares the core principles that led him to fight for equal rights for all Americans, and he shares why he is deeply concerned that affirmative action policies have reinforced the wrongful belief that black Americans’ accomplishments could not have existed outside of preferential treatment under the law. Later, Ward argues that growing conversations centered on “equity” are undermining our nation’s commitment to “equality” as the founders understood it. Tune in to the full episode to learn more about Ward’s story and hear his words of advice for “Darryl.”

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