Blackballed

From Lawrence Ross, author of *The Divine Nine* and the leading expert on sororities and fraternities, *Blackballed* is an explosive and controversial book that rips the veil off America’s hidden secret: America’s colleges have fostered a racist environment that makes them a hostile space for African American students. *Blackballed* exposes the white fraternity and sorority system, with traditions of racist parties, songs, and assaults on black students; and the universities themselves, who name campus buildings after racist men and women. College is a word that means many things to many people: a space for knowledge, a place to gain lifelong friends, and an opportunity to transcend one’s socioeconomic station. Today, though, this word also recalls a slew of headlines that have revealed a dark and persistent world of racial politics on campus. Does this association disturb our idealized visions of what happens behind the ivied walls of higher learning? It should – because campus racism on college campuses is as American as college football on Fall Saturdays. It also takes a deep dive into anti-affirmative action policies, and how they effectively segregate predominately white universities, providing ample room for white privilege. A bold mix of history and the current climate, *Blackballed* is a call to action for universities to make radical changes to their policies and standards to foster a better legacy for all students.