In recent years public perspective on American social science has been dominated by a species of inquiry most notably characterized by the published works of Coleman, Moynihan, and Jensen. These otherwise dissimilar individuals share the dubious honor of offering social science observations that sustain or encourage those who would reverse the national momentum of social reform. The Coleman "Report" disparaged a decade of educational intervention on behalf of black children. Moynihan recommended "benign neglect" of national issues of race. Jensen concluded that black children are educationally disadvantaged by reason of genetic inferiority. Christopher Jencks's recently published Inequality is the latest on this list of nay-saying social science observations.

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