At a time when prescriptions for racial injustice and poverty range from violent revolution to benign neglect, Hanging Together is a desperately needed perspective on the crises in American cities. Disdaining facile solutions, William L. Taylor, former Staff Director of the U. S. Commission on Civil Rights, provides a trenchant analysis of the social, economic, political and cultural problems of our cities that stunt and prevent equal opportunity for all citizens. From his unique vantage as leader of the organization known as “the conscience of the Federal Government” for its responsibility for instigating and recommending racial reform, Mr. Taylor critically and lucidly examines the issues vital to minority groups who have been the victims of legislative and executive incompetence, of deprivation and of discrimination. He re-evaluates the government’s civil rights effort and the war on poverty, challenging the current politics of failure by offering practical strategies for change, for participation and enrichment in the areas of employment and community development, welfare and economic security, housing, education and law enforcement. He offers some hard thoughts for those who were ready to conclude that the system cannot be made to work in the wage of the Nixon-Agnew politics of polarization.William Taylor believed that America has the capacity to solve two great challenges – eliminating the stain of racism and creating liveable cities – but only if both are faced together.Hanging Together: Equality in an Urban Nation by William L. Taylor. Published by Simon and Schuster 1971. 348pp. Hardback with dust jacket. Dust jacket condition: Good – a nice bright copy with minimal wear, but price clipped. Book condition: Good – slight tape residue to front free endpaper from gift card inserted inside. Slight foxing to page edge, but otherwise clean externally and internally. Tightly bound. No former owner inscriptions.