How Equality Wins - by Kenji Yoshino & David Glasgow (Hardcover)

Book Synopsis

The renowned legal experts behind Say the Right Thing return with this clarion call for reimagining the work of diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) in a divided nation.

Equality in America is under siege. Corporations and universities are abandoning the DEI programs they previously championed. The tools Americans had for advancing fairness are facing a relentless political and legal assault. So how do we build a more just nation when the old playbook is no longer viable?

In this groundbreaking manifesto, Kenji Yoshino and David Glasgow, founders of the Meltzer Center for Diversity, Inclusion, and Belonging at NYU School of Law, candidly unpack where DEI went wrong and offer a roadmap to rebuild equality for the new era.

Drawing on their peerless legal expertise and extensive experience advising leaders in corporate America, academia, and the non-profit sector, Yoshino and Glasgow share tangible strategies to put this nation back on a more inclusive path, such as by fostering free speech and dissent, reclaiming the concept of merit, and welcoming groups that felt neglected by DEI. In doing so, they provide an urgently needed blueprint to ensure the work of equality can overcome the backlash and emerge stronger on the other side.

In an era when equality is imperiled, How Equality Wins provides a bracing critique and hopeful call to action for anyone committed to creating a fairer society.

Review Quotes

"A principled guide to rescuing the ideal of equality from both its enemies and its excesses. With clarity and courage, Kenji Yoshino and David Glasgow show how to build institutions that are inclusive without becoming dogmatic." --Yascha Mounk, Professor of the Practice of International Affairs, Johns Hopkins University

"For everyone who still hews to the dream and promise of fundamental American equality, Yoshino and Glasgow prove that it can still win, on its own constitutional terms, with grace and abundance and humility."--Dahlia Lithwick, Senior Editor at Slate, host of the Amicus Podcast, and author of New York Times bestselling Lady Justice

"In their incisive treatise, How Equality Wins, Yoshino and Glasgow grapple with the gulf between atomized language and lived experience, and offer safe passage to anyone interested in connecting DEI and equality to merit and the national experiment of pluralism. By rejecting binary arguments and replacing tired tropes with actionable strategies, the authors signal that we have a joint obligation to fight for a nation that sees all and serves all - through addition, not subtraction or erasure. A must read for patriots in these troubled times."--Stacey Abrams, bestselling author and civic leader

"At a time when DEI is under siege and institutions are reconsidering--or retreating from--their equality commitments, Yoshino and Glasgow offer a pragmatic blueprint for countering the rising tide. In clear, elegant prose, they provide a crucial prescription for the present and an achievable vision for a more just future." --Melissa Murray, Frederick I. and Grace Stokes Professor of Law, NYU School of Law

"Impassioned, hopeful, and actionable, How Equality Wins is a beacon of light." --Vanessa Williams, award-winning actress and singer

"Astonishingly timely and important. Yoshino and Glasgow propose a vision that is at once practical and optimistic, lighting the way to a nation where everyone can thrive." --John Palfrey, President of the MacArthur Foundation

"Equality is under threat, and this essential blueprint shows us exactly how to fight back. An indispensable guide for everyone who believes in America's promise of liberty and justice for all." --George Takei, legendary actor, author, and activist

"This book demonstrates what diversity work should be--a vehicle that advances equality in a way that benefits everybody."--Eboo Patel, founder and president of Interfaith America and author of We Need to Build

About the Author

Kenji Yoshino is the Chief Justice Earl Warren Professor of Constitutional Law at NYU School of Law and the faculty director of the Meltzer Center for Diversity, Inclusion, and Belonging.

David Glasgow is the executive director of the Meltzer Center for Diversity, Inclusion, and Belonging, and an adjunct professor at NYU School of Law.