People for the American Way

In 1981, Norman Lear, the successful television producer of All in the Family, Maude, and The Jeffersons, led an effort by concerned citizens from political, religious, entertainment, and progressive corporations to counter what they considered one-sided leadership and lobbying by the political Far Right (e.g., Heritage Foundation, [Page 692]Citizens for Excellence in Education, Concerned Women for America, Eagle Forum, Focus on the Family, Liberty Legal Institute, Christian Coalition, the Moral Majority). Lear, Congresswoman Barbara Jordan, Notre Dame president Father Theodore Hesburgh, and others joined together to help fund and launch People For the American Way (PFAW) as a liberal-leaning think tank to confront attacks from what PFAW identified as right-wing extremist groups, like those examples named above. Lear and other PFAW leaders and supporters believed that liberal advocacy must confront the power and influence of the religious Right, and the forces supporting the agenda of the extreme right wing.

PFAW's founding purpose sought to give a voice to “the American Way.” Specifically, PFAW stated that the true American Way should promote pluralism; individuality; freedom of thought, expression, and religion; a sense of community; and tolerance and compassion for others. PFAW claimed an agenda that would reduce social tension and polarizations, encourage community participation, foster understanding and appreciation of diversity, and increase the level and quality of public dialogue. PFAW states that its highest purpose is to nurture a national climate that encourages and enhances the human spirit rather than one that divides people into hostile camps.

Critics of PFAW have suggested that its aggressive pursuit of its liberal agenda has also contributed to the culture wars and divided America. PFAW supporters will point to its victories in courts, among policymakers, and in the arena of public opinion as evidence of achieving its purpose of enriching the quality of public dialogue, debate, and decisions.

The PFAW has identified the following as major initiatives:

• Equality for all
• Fair and just courts
• Fighting the religious right
• Freedom of speech
• Religious liberty
• The right to vote

PFAW has often found itself involved in public school issues in pursuit of the above initiatives. As part of their partnership with public schools, PFAW has led legislative and litigated court fights against vouchers and any other efforts to privatize public education. Through efforts to educate the public and lobby policymakers, PFAW published reports like Voucher Veneer: The Deeper Agenda to Privatize Public Education. PFAW has also used the federal courts to challenge voucher initiatives and school boards' efforts to promote pro-Protestant Bible curriculum as an elective in public schools.

In advocating for religious liberty and freedom of speech, PFAW has taken on issues of Bibles in the classroom, prayers in public schools, and attempts to censor what students may read and learn. PFAW publishes an annual state-by-state report, Attacks on the Freedom to Learn, documenting attempts to restrict or censor public school curriculum and instruction as well as attacks on public school and public library materials. Conservative right-wing groups have claimed that public schools and liberal federal judges endorse what they characterize as a “new religion” in public schools, secular humanism. Such claims have led the conservative groups to challenge whole language teaching methods as promoting secular humanism, new age theology, and a New World Order. PFAW has mobilized local efforts to combat such right-wing attacks. In the past few years, PFAW has established state offices throughout the United States. The state affiliates and national offices have conducted extensive education programs to inform the general public and mobilize membership and supporters to fight attacks from the religious Right and other conservative activists.

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