Equality transformed : a quarter-century of affirmative action /

Belz (University of Maryland) offers a detailed, scholarly, and highly critical analysis of affirmative action since the early 1960s. He argues that while Title VII of the 1964 Civil Rights Act was intended to provide individuals with equal employment opportunites without regard for race, over time, practices by public and private employers that benefit certain groups on the basis of race or gender have become widespread. Instead of viewing employment discrimination as an injury suffered by identifiable individuals, policies now stress disparate impacts that employment practices may have on racial groups. Legislators, judges, regulatory agencies, and activists have replaced the goal of color-blind equal opportunity with that of equal results across racial groups regardless of the personal histories of individual members. Consequently, Belz believes that some individuals who suffered no personal injuries benefit; some who inflicted no injuries suffer; some who need help but belong to the wrong group fail to get it; and all members of the preferred group are stigmatized. The book is timely in light of recent Supreme Court decisions that increase the burden of proof faced by employees alleging employment discrimination. Contemporary congressional debates about quotas, race-norming of tests, and related concerns promise to be key campaign issues. Belz cites some supporters of affirmative action whose works could balance his own. Extensive endnotes and a useful chronology are supplied. Recommended for upper-division undergraduates and graduate students. J. A. Melusky Saint Francis College