What precisely is affirmative action, and why is it fiercely championed by some and just as fiercely denounced by others? Kennedy gives us a concise, gimlet-eyed, and deeply personal conspectus of the policy, refusing to shy away from the myriad complexities of an issue that continues to bedevil American race relations. He accounts for the slipperiness of the term "affirmative action" as it has been appropriated by ideologues of every stripe; delves into the complex and surprising legal history of the policy; analyzes key arguments pro and con advanced by the left and right, and ponders the future of affirmative action.