by Christopher M. Leporini

About the author: Christopher M. Leporini is a Chicago-based freelance writer.

Corporate affirmative action deserves a distinct place in America's continuing dialogue on race, gender and inequality. In recent years, the affirmative action debate has focused on government-sponsored affirmative action and university admissions, leaving corporate affirmative action relatively unexamined. This oversight is significant, because affirmative action's future remains uncertain. The 1994 Republican revolution weakened affirmative action advocates' political clout, reducing political support from Capitol Hill. Several pending court cases and voter initiatives could potentially eliminate many forms of affirmative action. But corporate programs are distinct from government-sponsored affirmative action in ways that substantially increase their chances of survival.

The majority of corporate affirmative action programs are voluntary attempts to improve workforce diversity. They are unaffected by thorny constitutional issues, such as those raised by...