Oklahoma votes to end affirmative action

Voters in Oklahoma approved an amendment to the state’s constitution to end affirmative action programmes in state government that had been designed to increase the hiring of minorities and women in the state’s 115 agencies.

Thu, 08 Nov, 2012 - 00:00

Steve Olafson

The amendment was approved by 59% of the voters.

Affirmative action, on the books in Oklahoma since 1984, required each state agency to file an annual plan to increase the hiring of women and ethnic minorities.

The constitutional amendment still prohibits special treatment or discrimination based on race or gender in public employment, education or contracts.

Supporters of the amendment said affirmative action was no longer necessary.

The Oklahoma population was 69% white, 9% Hispanic, 8% Native American and 7% African American, according to 2010 US Census figures.

The state’s workforce was comprised of 22.6% ethnic minorities — 10.4% black, 7.6% Native American, 2.7% Hispanic and 2% Asian/Pacific Islander, according to state data from the 2010 budget year, the most recent statistics available.

Women make up 56.9% of the state workforce, state reports show.

State Representative Jabar Shumate, an African American Democrat from Tulsa, said yesterday that ending the affirmative action programme made the state “look bad” to the rest of the country, in particular in the eyes of companies that might want to consider relocating or expanding in Oklahoma.

Shumate said he is hopeful the state will remain committed to employing a diverse workforce even without a formal policy of affirmative action.

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