This is the book that has forever changed the debate on affirmative action in America. The Shape of the River is the most far-reaching and comprehensive study of its kind. It brings a wealth of empirical evidence to bear on how race-sensitive admissions policies actually work and clearly defines the effects they have had on over 45,000 students of different races. Its conclusions mark a turning point in national discussions of affirmative action--anything less than factual evidence will no longer suffice in any serious debate of this vital question.Glenn Loury's new foreword revisits the basic logic behind race-sensitive policies, asserting that since individuals use race to conceptualize themselves, we must be conscious of race as we try to create rules for a just society. Loury underscores the need for confronting opinion with fact so we can better see the distinction between the "morality of color-blindness" and the "morality of racial justice."

List of Figures List of Tables
Preface
Ch. 1 Historical Context 1
Ch. 2 The Admissions Process and "Race-Neutrality" 15
Ch. 3 Academic Outcomes 53
Ch. 4 Advanced Study: Graduate and Professional Degrees 91
Ch. 5 Employment, Earnings, and Job Satisfaction 118
Ch. 6 Civic Participation and Satisfaction with Life 155
Ch. 7 Looking Back: Views of College 193
Ch. 8 Diversity: Perceptions and Realities 218
Ch. 9 Informing the Debate 256
Ch. 10 Summing Up 275
App. A The College and Beyond Database 291
App. B. Notes on Methodology 336
App. C Earnings in Relation to Advanced Degrees, Sector of Employment, and Occupation 362
App. D. Additional Tables 375
References 451
Index 461