A former member of the Civil Rights Division of the US Department of Justice, established in 1957, explains the agency's role in combating institutionalized racism. He discusses political realities, national priorities, the widening of the mandate, weathering political shifts in Washington, conflicts between career civil servants and political appointees, and other aspects. He also analyzes the consequences of its litigation positions and considers whether the structure of enforcement should be changed. Annotation copyrighted by Book News, Inc., Portland, OR