Phillip J. Cooper is a Professor of Public Administration at the Mark O. Hatfield School of Government at Portland State University, USA.

"This is a remarkable book that provides a comprehensive examination of the most critical issues surrounding civil rights laws and policies. It offers an excellent toolkit for public service professionals working in diverse environments who have had little exposure to civil rights matters and challenges. Scholars will benefit from the historical and contemporary analysis of civil rights law. Going beyond existing literature, the book addresses civil rights for groups such as Native Americans and LGBTs that have traditionally been omitted from the narrative. This book should be required reading in a broad number of areas including public administration, public management, civil rights law and policy and constitutional law." –Norma M. Riccucci, Rutgers University, USA"How do Americans comprehend differentness? This book provides the answer, matching constitutional interpretation with legal reasoning to explain how we got to where we are. This is an expertly crafted work that will be invaluable to those who study civil rights, diversity, social equity, and inequality. It is accessible, informative, and revealing." –Mary E. Guy, University of Colorado Denver, USA"This is a brilliant book that forces the reader to think about civil rights through a variety of lenses, including those of African Americans, Latinos, Native Americans, women, the LGBT community, and those with disabilities. Phil Cooper creatively fills in the gaps left by traditional civil rights treatises and pushes us to think about crafting more equitable policies and practices. It is a tour de force." –Rosemary O’Leary, University of Kansas, USA

• 1. Miles’ Law and the Challenge of Civil Rights in the United States2. From the Heritage of African American Slavery to Modern Civil Rights Protection3. From Plessy to Brown: Momentous Years in the Struggle4. Beyond Brown v. Board: Politics, Policy, and Problems 5. The Native American Perspective: Toward Civil Rights from Conquest, But a Long Way from That Goal6. Continuing Challenges for Native Americans: Problems Continue Despite Civil Rights Gains for Others 7. Natural Resources and Native Spirituality: A Different Kind of Civil Rights Claim8. Civil Rights from a Latino Perspective9. Critical Contemporary Issues in Latino Civil Rights10. Gender Discrimination: The Rise of So-called Middle Standard11. Civil Rights and Sexual Orientation and Identity12. Civil Rights and Disabilities in America: Paternalism, Discrimination, or Equality?13. Now the Work Begins: The Agenda for Policy and Practice Going Forward

Phillip J. Cooper is a Professor of Public Administration at the Mark O. Hatfield School of Government at Portland State University, USA.

"This is a remarkable book that provides a comprehensive examination of the most critical issues surrounding civil rights laws and policies. It offers an excellent toolkit for public service professionals working in diverse environments who have had little exposure to civil rights matters and challenges. Scholars will benefit from the historical and contemporary analysis of civil rights law. Going beyond existing literature, the book addresses civil rights for groups such as Native Americans and LGBTs that have traditionally been omitted from the narrative. This book should be required reading in a broad number of areas including public administration, public management, civil rights law and policy and constitutional law." –Norma M. Riccucci, Rutgers University, USA"How do Americans comprehend differentness? This book provides the answer, matching constitutional interpretation with legal reasoning to explain how we got to where we are. This is an expertly crafted work that will be invaluable to those who study civil rights, diversity, social equity, and inequality. It is accessible, informative, and revealing." –Mary E. Guy, University of Colorado Denver, USA"This is a brilliant book that forces the reader to think about civil rights through a variety of lenses, including those of African Americans, Latinos, Native Americans, women, the LGBT community, and those with disabilities. Phil Cooper creatively fills in the gaps left by traditional civil rights treatises and pushes us to think about crafting more equitable policies and practices. It is a tour de force." –Rosemary O’Leary, University of Kansas, USA

• 1. Miles’ Law and the Challenge of Civil Rights in the United States2. From the Heritage of African American Slavery to Modern Civil Rights Protection3. From Plessy to Brown: Momentous Years in the Struggle4. Beyond Brown v. Board: Politics, Policy, and Problems 5. The Native American Perspective: Toward Civil Rights from Conquest, But a Long Way from That Goal6. Continuing Challenges for Native Americans: Problems Continue Despite Civil Rights Gains for Others 7. Natural Resources and Native Spirituality: A Different Kind of Civil Rights Claim8. Civil Rights from a Latino Perspective9. Critical Contemporary Issues in Latino Civil Rights10. Gender Discrimination: The Rise of So-called Middle Standard11. Civil Rights and Sexual Orientation and Identity12. Civil Rights and Disabilities in America: Paternalism, Discrimination, or Equality?13. Now the Work Begins: The Agenda for Policy and Practice Going Forward