Faces at the Bottom of the Well: The Permanence of Racism

The noted civil rights activist uses allegory and historical example to present a radical vision of the persistence of racism in America. These essays shed light on some of the most perplexing and vexing issues of our day: affirmative action, the disparity between civil rights law and reality, the “racist outbursts” of some black leaders, the temptation toward violent retaliation, and much more.

This series of allegorial stories and encounters with fictional characters sheds light on some of the most perplexing and vexing issues of the day: affirmative action, disparity between civil rights law and reality, "racist outbursts" of some African American leaders, and more.

The noted civil rights activist uses allegory and historical example to present a radical vision of the persistence of racism in America. These essays shed light on some of the most perplexing and vex

Washington Post Book World

Stingingly effective....He is pushing a sort of racial existentialism...anchored in what is rather than in hopes of what will be.

A foremost legal and social thinker, Derrick Bell began challenging conventions with his now classic text Race, Racism and American Law. In his fictional allegorical stories and stimulating essays, Bell explores the fault lines in our social fabric and ways to repair them.