Guide Note

Lani Guinier is a prominent figure in the debate over affirmative action and other civil rights issues. In addition, she is the author of numerous books, law reviews, journal articles and newspaper editorials.

Fast Facts

1. Born: 1950
2. Birthplace: New York City, New York
3. Is of Jewish and Jamaican heritage
4. Alma Mater: Radcliffe College at Yale Law School
5. Supports Barack Obama in the presidential race
6. Worked as a civil rights attorney
7. Involved with The Miners Canary and The Racetalks Initiative
8. Professor of Law at Penn Law for 10 years
9. Joined Harvard Law School in 1998
10. Has written six books
11. Has 10 honorary degrees
12. Received Rosa Parks Award from the American Association of Affirmative Action

• • Professor of Law, Penn Law
  • Civil Rights Attorney
  • Assistant Counsel, NAACP Legal Defense and Educational Fund (LDF)
  • Head, Voting Rights project for the LDF
  • Special Assistant, Assistant Attorney General to Drew S. Days
  • Author

1. The Tyranny of the Majority
2. Becoming Gentlemen: Women, Law Schools and Institutional Change
3. Lift Every Voice: Turning a Civil Rights Setback into a New Vision of Social Justice
4. The Miner's Canary: Rethinking Race and Power
5. Who's Qualified?

In 1998, Guinier became the first ever African-American tenured female professor at Harvard University's Law School.¹

Guinier was the target of a negative media campaign when she was nominated by the Clinton Administration for Assistant Attorney General for Civil Rights during the early '90s. Clinton withdrew the nomination amidst the controversy.²