Reflections of an affirmative action baby Introduction: On being a Black intellectual Part I: On being an affirmative action baby. Racial preferences So what ; The representatives of the people ; The best Black ; Racial justice on the cheap Part II: On being a Black dissenter. Silencing dissent ; On contenting oneself with silence ; Why Black conservative is pejorative ; Silencing doubt Part III: On solidarity and reconciliation. The special perspective ; Special but equal ; Racial solidarity and the Black intellectual