ABSTRACT
Researching a topic like affirmative action or diversity management is both politically and methodologically challenging—and professionally very dangerous. Such issues are among the most deeply sensitive in American social and organizational life. Fear and intimidation are legendary in the realm of affirmative action and diversity management. As Timur Kuran pointed out brilliantly in his recent book, Private Truths, Public Lies, under affirmative action regimes, people have felt compelled to endorse publicly policies that they privately doubt or even scorn. There can be herculean affirmative action and workforce diversity efforts in the midst of much churning and turnover of personnel, yet the resulting ethnic and gender mix may remain relatively constant. Jonathan Tilove, the pioneering race relations reporter for the Newhouse News Service is one of the best analysts of race and ethnic relations in the United States. His articles were a continuing source of stimulation and information on an enterprise that can get all too lonely.
