November 1996

California voters approved Proposition 209, the California Civil Rights Initiative, with 54% in favor, banning affirmative action in state government employment, education, and contracting. The measure was championed by Ward Connerly, a Black University of California regent. Black enrollment at UC Berkeley's law school dropped 81% and at UCLA law 50% the year after implementation. The initiative became a national model for anti-affirmative action campaigns.

Texaco Inc. agreed to pay $176.1 million to settle a racial discrimination lawsuit filed by 1,400 Black employees who alleged systematic pay disparities and a hostile work environment. The settlement included $115 million in cash payments to plaintiffs and a $35 million pay equity fund. It followed public release of tapes of executives using racial slurs and discussing document destruction.

Civil rights leaders including Jesse Jackson organized a national boycott of Texaco gas stations after the New York Times published transcripts of 1994 executive tapes showing executives using racial slurs and discussing document destruction in a discrimination suit. Within days Texaco's stock fell $3 per share. The boycott lasted less than two weeks before Texaco agreed to the $176.1 million settlement, demonstrating the effectiveness of economic pressure tactics.

Following New York Times publication of 1994 executive tapes showing Texaco officials using racial slurs, Jesse Jackson organized a national boycott of Texaco stations. Within days Texaco's stock fell $3 per share. The boycott lasted less than two weeks before Texaco agreed to a $176.1 million settlement.