Ending affirmative action policies by state and local governments within Oklahoma is on the November 6 ballot. T.W. Shannon, the House Speaker-Elect of the state legislature and conservative Republican, weighs in: "Rep. T.W. Shannon, R-Lawton, led debate for the proposal when the state House considered it in 2011. 'We want to send a message in Oklahoma that everybody is playing on a
level playing field,' Shannon said in a recent interview. 'Those of us
in a minority category don't have to have a separate set of standards in
order to compete.'"
More: "Shannon, who will be the speaker of the House next year, has mixed
racial heritage - black and Chickasaw Indian - but said he doesn't
think he has ever benefited from an affirmative action program. He says he has, however, found himself in situations where people
assumed his accomplishments were the results of affirmative action. 'Frankly, it's insulting,' Shannon said. 'I know that many other minorities feel the same way.'"
Shannon Supports Oklahoma Anti-Affirmative Action Vote
