Race Relations

School Library Journal

Gr 9 UpThis well-constructed series entry explores such topics as the efficacy of Affirmative Action programs, whether or not America's justice system discriminates against African Americans, and the relations among Black, Asian, and Latino political powerbases. Viewpoints represented include those of Derrick Bell, Ellis Cose, Louis Farrakhan, Wanda Coleman, Lani Guinier, Pete Wilson, and Shelby Steele. Informational introductions set the stage for the opinion pieces. Thoughtfully arranged with excellent book and periodical bibliographies, this title will prove useful for report writers and debators, and will provide a good background to further reading of lengthier pieces, such as Nathan McCall's Make Me Wanna Holler (Random, 1994) and Shelby Steele's The Content of Our Character (HarperCollins, 1991).Kellie Flynn, St. Teresa High School, Decatur, IL

Booknews

With factories standing idle and people out of work, Russia's major growth industry and export seems to be memoirs of Soviet reformers responsible for the blessings of the free market. Yakovlev was a scholar of criminal law in the Soviet Union, played a leading role in creating the 1993 Russian constitution, and President Yeltsin's plenipotentiary representative in the parliament, advocating and explaining his bills and explaining his veto of others. He also reviews the history of criminal law in pre-revolutionary Russia and through the Soviet period. No bibliography. Annotation c. Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com)