Derrick Bell

Bell's Blues

absence from Harvard Law School in protest over the schools failure in its 150-year history to hire a woman of color in a tenured or tenure-track position. See Fox Butterfield, Harvard Law Professor Quits Until Black Woman is Named, NY Times Al (Apr 24, 1990). His decision was accompanied by student protests at the school in support of his stance and in vocal opposition to Harvards claim that it had found no qualified candidates. See Fox Butterfield, Harvard Liw School Torn by Race Issue, NY Times A20 (Apr 26, 1990). In 1991, Professor Bell remained on leave for the same reasons. In 1992, Professor Bell requested a renewal of his leave of absence as the continued failure of the law school to add a woman of color to its faculty constituted an ongoing violation of the commitment to affirmative action, an unjustified rejection of eminently qualified candidates, and a diminution of his status as a member of the faculty. See unpublished letter of Professor Derrick Bell to Dean Robert Clark, Harvard Law School, February 26, 1992 (on file with U Chi L Rev). See also Fox Butterfield, Professor Steps Up Fight with Harvard, NY Times A12 (Feb 28, 1992). Harvard Law School declined his request on the ground that it would violate the Universitys policy that restricts leaves of absence to two years. Professor Bells appeal of the decision to the Harvard Corporation was denied and his tenure was terminated on July 1, 1992. Harvard Law Notifies Bell of Dismissal for Absence, NY Times A19 (Jul 1, 1992). He is presently a visiting professor at New York University Law School. Id.

And We Are Not Saved: The Elusive Quest for Racial Justice

* Introduction The Legal Hurdles To Racial Justice * Prologue to Part I * The Real Status of Blacks Today * The Benefits to Whites of Civil Rights Litigation * The Racial Limitation on Black Voting Power * Neither Separate Schools Nor Mixed Schools * The Racial Barrier to Reparations * The Unspoken Limit on Affirmative Action * The Declining Importance of the Equal-Protection Clause The Social Affliction Of Racism * Prologue to Part II * The Race-Charged Relationship of Black Men and Black Women * The Right to Decolonize Black Minds Divining A Nations Salvation * Prologue to Part III * Salvation for All: The Ultimate Civil Rights Strategy