Reviews and analyzes the legal development and current status of affirmative action. Traces the aftermath of the Brown versus Board of Education case, the benign discrimination doctrine, the impact of the City of Richmond versus Croson in minority set-asides in Virginia, and the strict scrutiny standard. (JB)

Offers an analysis of the legal, court, and regulatory work of the Reagan and, to some extent, the Bush administrations on the issues of civil rights and affirmative action. Argues that these administrations worked to shift the views of the high court and mounted an offensive against affirmative action. (JB)