Executive Summary vi Foreword x Acknowledgments xiii The Evolution of Affirmative Action: A Critical Review 1 Organization of the Monograph 3 Affirmative Action Redux 4 Contemporary Affirmative Action as Public Policy 8 Tensions in the Interpretation of Affirmative Action 12 The Backlash Against Affirmative Action 14 Contrasting Affirmative Action in Employment and Admissions 17 Diversity as a "Compelling State Interest" 21 Redefinition of the Fourteenth Amendment in Bakke 22 The Emergence of the Diversity Rationale 26 The Grutter and Gratz Decisions 27 The Fisher Case: A New Bright Line 30 Solidifying the Court's Equal Protection Argument: The Schuette Decision 36 The Educational Benefits of Diversity: Who Gains? 39 Contextual Conditions That Overcome Magical Thinking 43 Campus Racial Climate 51 The Changing Paradigm: Access and Success of Minoritized Students 57 Resegregation 61 Institutional Selectivity and Resources 63 The Risks of First-Generation-in-College Status 64 Intergenerational Wealth 65 Social and Cultural Capital 65 Financial Aid and Tuition Increases 67 The Impact of State Bans on Affirmative Action 69 The Evolution of Percent Plans 73 Socioeconomic Status as a Proxy for Disadvantage 78 Mismatch Theory: Empirical Findings 80 Undermatch 84 The Complexities of Class-Based Admissions Policies 85 Fisher and Beyond: A Sea Change 89 Workable Race-Neutral Practices 93 A Higher Burden of Proof: Recommendations for Practice 97 References 102 Name Index 117 Subject Index 122 About the Authors 125.