Backfire: A Reporter's Look at Affirmative Action

Among the recent spate of books critical of affirmative action, ABC correspondent Zelnick's book--which concentrates on the policy's effects on blacks--is one of the most sweeping. Many such programs may involve unfairness or dishonesty, and Zelnick forcefully criticizes race-norming (the practice of developing a separate list of minority applicants for a given job), disingenuous attempts to diversify university admissions and set-asides for minority contractors. Exceeding his announced focus on affirmative action, Zelnick takes on related issues like self-segregation in campus housing, ""tracking"" in high school and the maintenance of historically black universities. In only a few chapters, however, does Zelnick propose constructive alternatives: critiquing set-aside programs, he suggests special training in business techniques and financial strategies for aspiring contractors; discussing mortgage statistics, he recommends a more mechanical ""credit scoring"" process to minimize any chance of loan-officer bias. Zelnick acknowledges that, at best, affirmative action can only serve as a rough tool for the redress of racial injustice and for correcting the nation's underlying race-consciousness. Given his righteous tone of criticism, however, and his failure to propose visionary alternatives to affirmative action, readers will be better served by Richard Kahlenberg's The Remedy (Forecasts, April 22). (July)