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Reflections Of An Affirmative Action Baby (Paperback)

by Stephen L. Carter (Author) "I got into law school because I am black..." (more)
Key Phrases: best black syndrome, black dissenters, racial preferences, United States, Supreme Court, Clarence Thomas (more...)

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The Dissent of the Governed : A Meditation on Law, Religion, and Loyalty by Stephen L. Carter
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Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly
Yale law professor Carter's provocative critique of affirmative action has stirred much debate and discussion.
Copyright 1992 Reed Business Information, Inc.

From Library Journal
The latest book to look at the issues facing African Americans from a point of view different from mainstream civil rights organizations, it begins with Yale law professor Carter discussing the positive and negative effects of affirmative action on his life. He then expands his study to include other topics such as the increase of racial incidents in America, dealing with political correctness and the conflicts between the mainstream liberal black community and the increasingly vocal so-called black conservatives. Like Shelby Steele's The Content of Our Character ( LJ 8/90), Carter's book is well written; unlike Steele, Carter provides lots of detailed documentation to support his ideas. A book that will find lots of readers and stir debate. For all libraries. (Index not seen.)-- Danna C. Bell-Russel, Mary mount Univ. Libs., Arlington, Va.
Copyright 1991 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

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Product Details

Paperback: 300 pages
Publisher: Basic Books (August 23, 1992)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 0465068693
ISBN-13: 978-0465068692
Product Dimensions: 8 x 5.4 x 0.8 inches
Shipping Weight: 8.3 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)

Average Customer Review: 3.6 out of 5 stars See all reviews (8 customer reviews)

Amazon.com Sales Rank: #480,573 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

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Inside This Book (learn more)

First Sentence:
I got into law school because I am black. Read the first page

Key Phrases - Statistically Improbable Phrases (SIPs): (learn more)
best black syndrome, black dissenters, racial preferences, black economist, diversity movement, affirmative action baby, qualification question, civil rights agenda, black conservatives

Key Phrases - Capitalized Phrases (CAPs): (learn more)
United States, Supreme Court, Clarence Thomas, New York, Republican Party, Glenn Loury, Yale Law School, Shelby Steele, The Plan, Julius Lester, Martin Luther King, National Merit Scholarship, Political Union, Thomas Sowell, Atlanta University, Derrick Bell, First Amendment, Jesse Jackson, South Africa, Marion Barry, Uncle Tom, Black Caucus, Daniel Lewis James, George Bush, Heritage Lecture

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Citations (learn more)

This book cites 54 books:

Notes of a Hanging Judge: Essays and Reviews, 1979-1989 by Stanley Crouch on 4 pages
Black Power: The Politics of Liberation in America by Stokely Carmichael on 4 pages
Choosing Elites by Robert Klitgaard in Back Matter (1), Back Matter (2), and Back Matter (3)
A Common Destiny: Blacks and American Society by Committee on the Status of Black Americans in Back Matter (1), and Back Matter (2)
Preferential Policies: An International Perspective by Thomas Sowell in Back Matter (1), and Back Matter (2)

See all 54 books this book cites

100 books cite this book:

Equality, Affirmative Action and Justice. by Johnan Rabe on 7 pages
Trickster Lives: Culture and Myth in American Fiction by Jeanne Campbell Reesman on 4 pages
The Culture of Disbelief by Stephen L. Carter in Front Matter, page 193, and Back Matter
Faces At The Bottom Of The Well: The Permanence Of Racism by Derrick Bell on page 116, Back Matter (1), and Back Matter (2)
Integrity by Stephen L. Carter in Back Matter (1), Back Matter (2), and Back Matter (3)

See all 100 books citing this book

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	65% buy the item featured on this page: Reflections Of An Affirmative Action Baby 3.6 out of 5 stars (8) $18.90
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Customer Reviews

8 Reviews

5 star:		(3)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(1)

Average Customer Review

3.6 out of 5 stars (8 customer reviews)

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Most Helpful Customer Reviews

17 of 18 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars A book to encourage debate- not end it!!, August 24, 2002

By	Kevin Currie-Knight "PhD Student in Education" (Newark, Delaware) - See all my reviews (TOP 500 REVIEWER)

This is not the book that many will expect it to be. If the reader is looking for a book taking a position for or against affirmative action, she will be dissapointed here. In fact, half of the book actually is absent talk of affirmative action at all. What Carter does do in "Reflections.." is relay to us his experiences, thoughts and feelings on the matter in the style of an internal socratic dialogue.

Stephen Carter is just the man to do it. He has written many books on the many aspects of law and, as he conveys in this cultural memoir, has aquired views notoriously hard to pin down (how many 'liberals' do YOU know who wrote books suggesting that church/state seperation has been taken too far?!) Accordingly, he can admits both being helped by affirmative action and being psychologically hurt by some of it's misguided effects. His willingness to think and write about these quandaries, so often neglected by other thinkers, makes this a fascinating read. No dogmatic diatribes or easy answers, just discussion that is passionate yet objective.

While affirmative action dominates the first half of the book, it is used as a springboard to the second half, which discusses a deeper problem- that of a noticeable distrust in Black America of dissenting political voices. Thomas Sowell, Shelby Steele, Clarence Thomas and the like are quick to be called 'white' or 'inauthentic' if they voice opinions contrary to mainstream black thought. Whether or not you agree with Carter's observation, his discussion here is lively, thoughtful and always respectful of all angles.

So, to close, the reason for the subtracted star is the fact that this book might disappoint two expectations readers may have for it- First, there are no conclusions reached here. While this is a good thing in itself, the reader looking for winning intellectual argument will need to look elsewhere. The second is that the title is a bit misleading as only about 100 pages are actually on affirmative action. Again, the discussion after is just as mind-capturing. Still, because of the title and synopsis, it is a bit misleading.

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7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Thought-provoking, eloquent, erudite..., April 20, 2000

By	"hermione" (NY, NY) - See all my reviews

I was actually assigned to read a chapter of this book for one of my classes and wound up purchasing the entire thing because I found it so utterly compelling. What makes this a refreshing departure from other books on affirmative action is how Carter manages to personalize his message while at the same time not coming off as an ideologue. His arguments are too well-reasoned, too thought-provoking, for anyone to dismiss his work out of hand.

His theory of affirmative action walks the line between anecdotal evidence and policy analysis, but his exposition is so graceful that these competing methods don't create contradiction. Carter manages to write both a poignant account of his own experience with affirmative action as well as a critical analysis of the motivation behind affirmative action and it's failed execution in the U.S.

Carter's book has once again proven that affirmative action is something intelligent people can disagree about, for respectively rational and well-meaning reasons. I am no closer to knowing the "right" answer to such a muddled issue, but the fact that Carter is thinking and writing about it enrichens the debate immeasurably.

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7 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Provocative Thinking about a Major Cultural Problem, March 5, 2001

By	rodboomboom (Dearborn, Michigan United States) - See all my reviews (TOP 50 REVIEWER)

I must confess from the outet that likely I am not part of a recognized minority, unless one considers a short, German belonging to a small, conservataive Christian church such.

Carter is a provocative writer and thinker. Having read other works of his on culture and religion and law, this is yet another which shows us this talented man's ability to present a lucid, well thought out opinion.

Many points put forth in this work caused me to seriously ponder my views, and my culture's. My sensisitivity has been heightened, my horizons have been stretched and broadened. Admittedly so, I have not had enough exposure to all the voices Carter provides besides his own. This is of tremendous value to me.

Still horrifying and repugnant to me personally to know the reality of racism and all of its trump cards that both sides play. Carter seeks to expose them all for what they're worth. The solidarity and love he has for his heritage shines forth, as well the balance and passionate opinions he expresses for resolve in the future.

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Most Recent Customer Reviews

3.0 out of 5 stars I expected a better reasoned argument.
Carter's most lucid thesis is that racial preferences demoralize both non-whites and whites because the preferences presume that non-whites are incapable of scoring and competing... Read more

Published 19 months ago by Irami Osei-Frimpong

1.0 out of 5 stars A Flawed Argument
Once over lunch with a Polish-American friend of mine, we discussed affirmative action. I support it; she doesn't. "Carolyn," she said, "you're so smart. Read more

Published on June 5, 2002 by Carolyn Bright

4.0 out of 5 stars Required reading for everyone!
I picked up this one in a second-hand bookstore in Quetzaltenango, Guatemala. What an odd place for such a book, and what a treat it was for me!! Read more

Published on September 10, 2001 by Hilde B

5.0 out of 5 stars Carter's perspective or affirmative action is authoritative
Carter presents the issue of affirmative action and racial preference in a refreshing light. He accurately identifies the tendency of the modern political world to require all... Read more

Published on January 12, 2000 by PRC

2.0 out of 5 stars A study in callowness and naivete
Stephen L. Carter wishes to deny to other African-Americans those very advantages that allowed him to "make it" in the system, all the while ignoring the pervasive... Read more

Published on December 2, 1997

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