In the introduction to Jordan's book, Martin Luther King III says proponents of California's Proposition
209, "have craftly exploited our cultural blindspot"...by running TV commercials that quote his father
(Dr. King) "selectively out of context" by claiming that he opposed affirmative action.

In this same introduction, King III called Mr. Ward Connerly's, who led the campaign for Proposition 209, statement that "he had succeeded in life, and that racism no longer weighed heavily on America, "just a classic hasty generalization."

According to Martin Luther King III, "Historically, America has given preferential treatment to white males beginning with slavery, followed by segregation, and now overt and covert discrimination." King III also co-chairs the Americans United for Affirmative Action which is working to defeat anti-affirmative initiatives in states like Florida that will not allow blacks and others minorities to have a "level paying field."

In 1964, the Civil Rights Act allowed for the orderly integration of blacks and other minorities into the workforce. During the early 70's President Nixon allowed Assistant Secretary of Labor Dr. Arthur Fletcher to activate his Philadelphia Plan that set the model for affirmative action for the next 24 years.

According to Jordan, since that time, "Many African Americans have found access to education and better employment opportunities through affirmative action, lifting their families from basic survival economics to lower middle class status. This policy also gave women the opportunity to become entrepreneurs while opening doors to the ivory tower of white colleges and universities.
(continued next page)