"Presents an analysis of race in American society that explores its sharply divisive nature while tracing the history of affirmative action and offering insight into related pros and cons, "--Novelist.

Introduction : growing up with affirmative action -- 1. Affirmative action in the history of American race relations -- 2. The affirmative action policy debate : the key arguments pro and con -- 3. The color-blind challenge to affirmative action -- 4. The Supreme Court and affirmative action : the case of higher education -- 5. Reflections on the future of the affirmative action controversy.