Overview
Richard Kahlenberg has been on a lifelong journey to expand social and economic opportunity and provide a much wider group of people the chance to have a place at the table. In this highly personal and deeply researched book, he dramatically and persuasively illustrates that class disadvantage should be the determining factor for how a broader group of people gain admittance to higher education and the opportunity to “swim in the river of power”.
While elite universities claim to be on the side of social justice, the dirty secret of higher education in the United States is that the decades-long focus on racial diversity provides cover for an admissions system that mostly benefits the wealthy and shuts out talented working-class students. How to rectify the resulting skyrocketing economic inequality and class antagonism is a question of profound moral and political importance.
Kahlenberg has long worked with prominent civil rights leaders on housing and school integration, but he made a controversial decision to go over to the “other side” and provide research and testimony that helped lead to the controversial Supreme Court decision of 2023 that ended racial preferences. Ironically, he shows, this decision could actually result in a progressive policy outcome – from one that benefited the upper-middle class to one that helps working-class students, a disproportionate share of whom are Black and Latino.
This book title, Class Matters (The Fight to Get Beyond Race Preferences, Reduce Inequality, and Build Real Diversity at America's Colleges), ISBN: 9781541704237, by Richard D Kahlenberg, published by PublicAffairs (March 25, 2025) is available in hardcover. Our minimum order quantity is 25 copies. All standard bulk book orders ship FREE in the continental USA and delivered in 4-10 business days.
Unlike Amazon and other retailers who may also offer Class Matters (The Fight to Get Beyond Race Preferences, Reduce Inequality, and Build Real Diversity at America's Colleges) books on their website, we specialize in large quantities and provide personal service, from trusted, experienced, friendly people in Portland, Oregon. We offer a Price Match Guarantee, and QuickQuote form, to make purchasing quick and easy.
Prefer to work with a human being when you order Class Matters (The Fight to Get Beyond Race Preferences, Reduce Inequality, and Build Real Diversity at America's Colleges) books in bulk? Our Book Specialists are standing by Monday-Friday 8-5 PST, ready to help!