California tests racial boundaries

The Racial Policy Initiative is part of that. Written by the same man who created the anti-affirmative-action initiative, this one would ban state collection of racial data, except in certain cases, such as medical research and federal reports. A poll found that 48 percent of Californians supported the initiative – which is likely to make the November ballot – although only one-quarter had actually heard of it before.

To author Ward Connerly, it's time for California to change its attitude on race. Not only does race mean less as intermarriage grows, he says, but also, the state should not "define people by their hyphens."

It's a noble goal, critics acknowledge, but one that misjudges California's progress. The concern is that a lack of racial data will devastate programs and studies aimed at ending discrimination and helping traditional minorities.

Mr. Connerly counters that it's a natural next step. The exemptions address many issues, and others – such as anti-racial-profiling efforts – could be continued so long as they were local. The state Legislature, he adds, could create more exemptions with a two-thirds vote in both houses.

Even at this early stage of the campaign, the debate provides insight into California's often-polarized racial policy. In addition to bans on affirmative action and bilingual education, California voters decided to stop benefits to illegal immigrants – a move that was later struck down in court. To many, the Racial Policy Initiative seems part of that conservative backlash to the state's growing diversity.

Yet the decision to open slave-era insurance records is something that even the most liberal states have not attempted. The law, which mandates that insurance companies operating in California open their records, has revealed lists of slaves who were covered by their policies. In turn, lawyers and would-be plaintiffs now have a chance to see whose ancestors are listed, potentially bolstering lawsuits.

True, California can be sure that its part in assisting slavery was peripheral, given that slavery was never legal here. But the state has also asked its universities to examine California's role in slavery, and a dollar figure for damages might even be suggested. When asked, Gov. Gray Davis didn't discount the idea of reparations. "Clearly, he's the most prominent politician to voice even conservative support," says Elazar Barkan, author of a book on reparations called "The Guilt of Nations."

For his part, Connerly draws a clear line between his initiative and the opening of slave-era records. "The contrast could not be greater," says Connerly, who is African American. "Here's this reparations movement saying, 'Look at these poor black people.' This is looking to the past. On the other side, you have this idea: 'Let's move forward.' "

What emerges from this clash of ideals, experts say, will not be a conclusion, but rather an ever-changing road map of starts and stops, successes and failures.

"California is exploring the boundaries and the consequences of racial diversity," says Mr. Baldassare. "We're just finding our way as we go along."

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