Atimelydefenseofaffirmativeactionpoliciesthatoffersamorenuancedunderstandingofhowcenturiesofinvidiousracism,discrimination,andsegregationintheUnitedStatesledtoandjustifiessuchpoliciesfrombothamoralandconstitutionalperspective.Since1961,theissueof“affirmativeaction“hasbeenahotlycontestedlegalandpoliticalissue.Intendedtoaddressournation’softenhorrifyingdiscriminationagainstBlackAmericansandotherminorities,affirmativeactionhasledoverthepastsixtyyearstofargreaterminorityrepresentationacrossavastrangeofindustries,governmentpositions,andacademicinstitutions.Nonetheless,affirmativeactionpoliciesintheUnitedStatescontinuetofallunderassault.InALegacyofDiscrimination,LeeC.BollingerandGeoffreyR.Stone,twoofAmerica’sleadingconstitutionalscholars,tracethepolicy’shistoryandthelegalchallengesithasfacedoverthedecades.Theyarguethatinordertofullycomprehendaffirmativeaction’soriginalintentandimpact,wemustre-acquaintourselveswiththeerainwhichitarose,beginningwiththemostimportantSupremeCourtdecisionofthe20thcentury,1954’sBrownv.BoardofEducationofTopeka,Kansas.Assessingthishistory,BollingerandStoneintroducesubsequent,andevolving,affirmative-actioncaselawthathadtheintentandeffectofconstrainingsocial,educational,andeconomicprogressforBlackpeopleandotherminoritygroups.Theydemonstratehowandwhyaffirmativeactionpoliciesstandonfirmlegalgroundandmustremainprotected.Further,theyexplainwhyAmericansmustviewaffirmativeactionasalong-termmoralcommitmenttosecurejustice,especiallyforBlackAmericans,afterthreeandahalfcenturiesofgraveinjusticethatviolatesthemostessentialaspirationsofournation.Atimelyandrobustoverviewofthehistoryofournation’shistoricalandcontinuingracialdiscriminationandoftheadventofaffirmativeactionasacriticalmeanstoaddressthishistory,thisbookwillserveasapowerfuldefenseofapolicythathasaccomplishedmorethanmostpeoplerealizeinmakingAmericaafairerandmoreinclusivecountry.
educational STONE LEGACY KANSAS
