Informed debate is the cornerstone of a vital democracy.
When people argue about affirmative action, they often speak past each other, meaning different things with the same words. Sex, Race, and Merit traces the history of this divisive national issue as it has been reflected in the writings of key opinion makers and in public documents. The book's opening pages define what exactly affirmative action is and show how it operates in employment and education. The next sections present the voices of major figures in the national debate, including journalists, scholars, and other opinion makers, presenting all sides of the issues. The book concludes with selected excerpts from the most important laws and legal decisions that concern affirmative action.