cbocs west humphries argued february decided may claiming petitioner cbocs west dismissed black complained managers black also dismissed reasons respondent humphries filed suit charging cbocs actions violated title vii civil rights act latter gives persons right make enforce contracts enjoyed white citizens district dismissed title vii claims failure timely pay filing fees granted cbocs summary judgment claims seventh circuit affirmed direct discrimination claim remanded trial humphries retaliation claim rejecting cbocs argument encompass claim held section encompasses retaliation claims pp conclusion rests significant part upon stare decisis principles examines pertinent interpretive history sullivan little hunting park later interpreted relied jackson birmingham bd recognized retaliation actions encompassed provides citizens shall right enjoyed white citizens inherit purchase lease sell hold convey real personal property long interpreted alike enacted together common language serve purpose providing black citizens legal rights enjoyed citizens see runyon mccrary patterson mclean credit union without mention retaliation narrowed excluding scope conduct occurring formation employment contract retaliation likely found subsequently congress enacted civil rights act designed supersede patterson see jones donnelley sons explicitly defining scope include conduct since federal courts appeals uniformly interpreted encompassing retaliation actions sullivan interpreted jackson well long line related cases construes similarly lead conclusion view encompasses retaliation claims well embedded law stare decisis considerations strongly support adherence view considerations impose considerable burden seek different interpretation necessarily unsettle many precedents pp cbocs several arguments taken separately together justify departure interpretation first cbocs correct plain text expressly refer retaliation alone sufficient carry day given long recognition provides protection retaliation jackson recent holding title ix education amendments includes antiretaliation remedy despite title ix failure use word retaliation sullivan refusal embrace similar argument see second contrary cbocs assertion congress failure include explicit antiretaliation provision amendment demonstrate intention cover retaliation plausibly explained fact given sullivan new statutory language nullifying patterson need include explicit retaliation language third argument applying retaliation actions create overlap title vii allegedly allowing retaliation plaintiff circumvent title vii detailed administrative procedural mechanisms thereby undermine effectiveness proves much precisely kind title overlap potential circumvention exists respect direct discrimination yet congress explicitly intentionally created overlap alexander fourth contrary arguments cbocs find support burlington white domino pizza mcdonald burlington distinguished discrimination based status women black persons discrimination based conduct leads retaliation suggest congress must separate two events moreover domino pizza recent cases may place greater emphasis statutory language sullivan arguable change interpretive approach justify reexamination prior law stare decisis principles pp affirmed breyer delivered opinion roberts stevens kennedy souter ginsburg alito joined thomas filed dissenting opinion scalia joined cbocs west petitioner hedrick humphries writ certiorari appeals seventh circuit may justice breyer delivered opinion longstanding civil rights law first enacted civil war provides persons within jurisdiction shall right every state territory make enforce contracts enjoyed white citizens rev stat basic question us whether provision encompasses complaint retaliation person complained violation another person right conclude case us arises claim respondent hedrick humphries former assistant manager cracker barrel restaurant cbocs west cracker barrel owner dismissed racial bias humphries black man complained managers fellow assistant manager dismissed another black employee venus green reasons humphries timely filed charge equal employment opportunity commission eeoc pursuant received right sue letter filed complaint federal district charging cbocs actions violated title vii civil rights act stat amended et older equal contract rights provision issue district dismissed humphries title vii claims failure pay necessary filing fees timely basis granted cbocs motion summary judgment humphries two claims humphries appealed appeals seventh circuit ruled humphries upheld district grant summary judgment respect direct discrimination claim ruled humphries favor remanded trial respect retaliation claim appeals rejected cbocs argument encompass claim retaliation cbocs sought certiorari asking us consider legal question agreed see ii question us whether encompasses retaliation claims conclude conclusion rests significant part upon principles stare decisis begin examining pertinent interpretive history first considered comparable question sullivan little hunting park case arose statutory provision congress enacted civil war along protect rights black citizens provision similar except focused upon rights make enforce contracts rights related ownership property statute provides citizens shall right every state territory enjoyed white citizens thereof inherit purchase lease sell hold convey real personal property paul sullivan white man rented house freeman black man also assigned freeman membership share corporation permitted owner use private park corporation controlled freeman race corporation little hunting park refused approve share assignment sullivan protested association expelled sullivan took away membership shares sullivan sued little hunting park claiming actions violated upheld sullivan claim found corporation refusal approve assignment membership share clearly interference freeman black lessee right added sullivan white lessor standing maintain action previously said white owner times effective adversary unlawful restrictive covenant ibid quoting barrows jackson noted permit corporation punish sullivan trying vindicate rights minorities protected give impetus perpetuation racial restrictions property made clear sullivan stands proposition encompasses retaliation claims see jackson birmingham bd sullivan interpreted general prohibition racial discrimination cover retaliation advocate rights groups protected prohibition sullivan decision interpreted precedents long construed similarly runyon mccrary considered whether prohibits private acts discrimination citing sullivan along jones alfred mayer tillman recreation reasoned case law necessarily requires conclusion like reaches private conduct see also powell concurring although sullivan jones involved rather agree considered holdings respect purpose meaning necessarily apply statutes view common derivation stevens concurring incongruous give two sections fundamentally different construction see also shaare tefila congregation cobb applying discussion holding saint francis college case interpreting indicated runyon construed alike recognized sister statutes common language origin purposes like traces origin civil rights act stat see general building contractors pennsylvania noting shared historical roots two provisions tillman supra like represents immediately war legislative effort guarantee newly freed slaves legal rights citizens enjoy see general building contractors supra noting strong purposive connection two provisions like uses broad language says citizens shall right every state territory enjoyed white citizens compare language set forth supra see jones supra noting close parallel language two provisions indeed differs refers right make enforce contracts right inherit purchase lease sell hold convey real personal property light precedents surprising following sullivan federal appeals courts concluded basis sullivan reasoning encompassed retaliation claims see choudhury polytechnic inst goff continental oil overruled carter south central bell winston years sullivan patterson mclean credit union significantly limited scope focused upon words make enforce contracts interpreted phrase narrowly wrote statutory phrase apply conduct employer contract relation established including breach terms contract imposition discriminatory working conditions emphasis added added word enforce apply conduct unless discrimination issue infects legal process ways prevent one enforcing contract rights ibid emphasis added thus encompass claim black employee charged employer violated employment contract harassing failing promote race ibid since victims employer retaliation often opposed discriminatory conduct taking place formation employment contract patterson holding brief time seems practice foreclosed retaliation claims one exception found federal appeals decision time decided patterson permitted retaliation claim proceed see walker south central bell tel per curiam overby chevron usa sherman burke contracting per curiam see also malhotra cotter questioning without deciding viability retaliation claims patterson see hicks brown group allowing claim discriminatory discharge proceed vacated remanded ordering reconsideration light became eighth circuit en banc opinion taggart jefferson cty child support enforcement unit held racially discriminatory discharge claims barred however congress weighed matter congress passed civil rights act stat design supersede patterson jones donnelley sons insofar relevant new law changed reenacting former provision designating adding new subsection says enforce contracts defined purposes section term enforce contracts includes making performance modification termination contracts enjoyment benefits privileges terms conditions contractual relationship accompanying senate report pointed amendment superseded patterson adding new subsection reaffirm right make enforce contracts includes enjoyment benefits privileges terms conditions contractual relationship among things ensure americans may harassed fired otherwise discriminated contracts race ibid emphasis added accompanying house report said cutting back scope rights contracts patterson interpreted eliminate retaliation claims courts previously recognized section pt pp added protections subsection provided context employment discrimination include limited claims harassment discharge demotion promotion transfer retaliation hiring emphasis added also said new law restore rights sue retaliatory conduct enactment new law federal courts appeals reached broad consensus amended encompasses retaliation claims see hawkins legal serv care aleman chugach support foley university houston system johnson university cincinnati case manatt bank america na andrews lakeshore rehabilitation hospital upshot sullivan interpreted jackson recognized encompasses retaliation action long interpreted alike patterson without mention retaliation narrowed excluding scope conduct namely conduct retaliation likely found congress enacted legislation superseded patterson explicitly defined scope include conduct since lower courts uniformly interpreted encompassing retaliation actions sullivan interpreted relied upon jackson well long line related cases construe similarly lead us conclude view encompasses retaliation claims indeed well embedded law considerations stare decisis strongly support adherence view considerations impose considerable burden upon seek different interpretation necessarily unsettle many precedents see welch texas dept highways public plurality opinion describing importance stare decisis patterson considerations stare decisis special force area statutory interpretation john sand gravel slip iii view cbocs several arguments taken separately together justify departure described interpretation first cbocs points plain text text says persons shall right make enforce contracts enjoyed white citizens emphasis added cbocs adds insofar humphries complains retaliation complaining retaliatory action employer taken whether black white way construe text cover kind deprivation thus text language cbocs concludes simply provide cause action based retaliation brief petitioner agree cbocs statute language expressly refer claim individual black white suffers retaliation tried help different individual suffering direct racial discrimination secure rights fact alone sufficient carry day long held statutory text sister statute provides protection retaliation reasons related enforcement express statutory right see supra moreover recently read another broadly worded civil rights statute namely title ix education amendments stat amended et including antiretaliation remedy jackson considered whether statutory language prohibiting discrimination basis sex education program activity receiving federal financial assistance encompassed claims retaliation complaints sex discrimination despite fact title ix use word retaliation held jackson statute language encompassed claim part congress enacted title ix three years sullivan decided presume congress thoroughly sullivan congress consequently title ix interpreted conformity sullivan jackson supra jackson explicitly rejected arguments dissent advances sullivan merely standing case see post opinion thomas compare jackson sullivan holding limited plainly held white owner maintain private cause action show trying vindicate rights emphasis original thomas dissenting regardless linguistic argument cbocs makes apparent time decided sullivan see harlan dissenting noting construction jones way required statute language one bases justice harlan dissent jones contending sullivan gone yet beyond jones believe late day effect overturn holding case cbocs ask us basis linguistic argument apparent embrace time second cbocs argues congress reenacted amendments intended reenacted statute cover retaliation cbocs rests conclusion primarily upon fact congress include explicit antiretaliation provision word retaliation new statutory language although congress included explicit antiretaliation language civil rights statutes see national labor relations act fair labor standards act title vii civil rights act age discrimination employment act americans disabilities act family medical leave act believe however circumstances cbocs points find far plausible explanation fact given sullivan new statutory language nullifying patterson need congress include explicit language retaliation amendments make clear congress intended supersede result patterson embrace law law included sullivan see part ii supra nothing statute text surrounding circumstances suggests congressional effort supersede sullivan interpretation courts subsequently given case contrary amendments history indicates congress intended restore interpretation see noting context employment discrimination include claims retaliation third cbocs points applied retaliation actions overlap title vii adds title vii requires invoke remedial powers satisfy certain procedural administrative requirements contain see charge discrimination must brought eeoc within days discriminatory act suit must filed within days obtaining eeoc letter cbocs says permitting retaliation action allow retaliation plaintiff circumvent title vii specific administrative procedural mechanisms thereby undermining effectiveness brief petitioner argument however proves much precisely kind title overlap potential circumvention exists respect direct discrimination yet congress explicitly created overlap respect direct employment discrimination obvious interpret avoid overlap without eviscerating respect contracts overlap exists regardless previously acknowledged necessary overlap title vii patterson added remedies available title vii although related although directed ends separate distinct independent johnson railway express agency pointed title vii provides important administrative remedies benefits lacks see detailing benefits title vii aggrieved employment discrimination concluded title vii designed supplement rather supplant existing laws institutions relating employment discrimination alexander word previously held overlap reflects congressional design see ibid reason reach different conclusion case fourth cbocs says finds support position two recent cases burlington white domino pizza mcdonald burlington title vii case distinguished discrimination harms individuals status example women black persons discrimination harms individuals based conduct example leads retaliation cbocs says draw similar distinction conclude encompasses discrimination burlington however used distinction help explain congress might wanted explicit title vii antiretaliation provision sweep broadly include conduct outside workplace substantive title vii antidiscrimination provision burlington suggest congress must separate two events dissent argues distinction made burlington meaningful purportedly underscores fact discrimination retaliation distinct harms call tailored legislative treatment post construction general ban discrimination contained cover retaliation claims dissent continues somehow render separate antiretaliation provisions statutes superfluous ibid burlington find title vii antiretaliation provision redundant found provision broader reach statute substantive provision case held legislative enactments area long evinced general intent accord parallel overlapping remedies discrimination alexander supra see great american fed sav loan assn novotny ubstantive rights conferred century civil rights acts withdrawn sub silentio subsequent passage modern statutes accordingly accepted overlap number civil rights statutes see ibid discussing interrelation fair housing provisions civil rights act title vii see also supra overlap reach title vii statute issue burlington congressional design cbocs highlights second case domino pizza along patterson cites cort ash rodriguez per curiam show follows approach statutory interpretation emphasizes text newer approach cbocs claims lead us revisit holding sullivan older case placed less weight upon textual language even posit argument sake changes interpretive approach take place time time agree existence change justify reexamination prior law principles stare decisis demand respect precedent whether judicial methods interpretation change stay principles fail achieve legal stability seek upon rule law depends see john sand gravel slip iv conclude considerations stare decisis strongly support adherence sullivan long line related cases interpret similarly cbocs arguments convince us contrary consequently hold encompasses claims retaliation judgment appeals affirmed ordered cbocs west petitioner hedrick humphries writ certiorari appeals seventh circuit may justice thomas justice scalia joins dissenting holds private right action implied rev stat encompasses claims retaliation holding basis text justified principles stare decisis respectfully dissent unexceptional case law tatutory construction must begin language employed congress assumption ordinary meaning language accurately expresses legislative purpose engine mfrs assn south coast air quality management quoting park fly dollar park fly today rule honored breach analysis statutory text appear part iii opinion potential reason depart interpretation already concluded grounds must carry day ante unlike think best begin usually text statute section provides persons within jurisdiction shall right every state territory make enforce contracts sue parties give evidence full equal benefit laws proceedings security persons property enjoyed white citizens shall subject like punishment pains penalties taxes licenses exactions every kind section thus guarantees persons right make enforce contracts enjoyed white citizens difficult see one finds cause action retaliation language face straightforward ban racial discrimination making enforcement contracts surprisingly always construed see domino pizza mcdonald section offers relief racial discrimination blocks creation contractual relationship well racial discrimination impairs existing contractual relationship patterson mclean credit union section racial discrimination making enforcement private quoting runyon mccrary johnson railway express agency section face relates primarily racial discrimination making enforcement contracts respondent nonetheless contends terms section significantly different broader simple prohibition discrimination brief respondent true enacted shortly civil war use modern statutory formulation prohibiting discrimination basis race clear import terms contrary respondent contention nothing evinces concer protecting individuals opposed ing injury individuals based ibid quoting burlington white affirmatively guarante freestanding rights engage particular conduct brief respondent rather provision see georgia rachel congress intended protect limited category rights specifically defined terms racial equality statute assumes white citizens enjoy certain rights requires rights extended equally persons regardless race say prohibits discrimination based retaliation discrimination based race individual subjected reprisal complained racial discrimination injury suffers account race rather result conduct recognized commonsense distinction two years ago burlington explained title vii antidiscrimination provision seeks prevent injury individuals based status whereas antiretaliation provision seeks prevent harm individuals based conduct distinction sound reflects fact claim retaliation logically factually distinct claim discrimination logically retaliation based conduct discrimination based status mutually exclusive categories factually claim retaliation depend proof discrimination actually occurred consider example employer fires employee complains race discrimination regardless employee race employer undoubtedly guilty retaliation discriminated basis anyone race employer treats employees black white deny employee right make enforce contracts enjoyed white citizens apparently believes distinction relevant case unlike burlington require us determine whether supposed prohibition retaliation sweep broadly antidiscrimination prohibition ante nonsense although notes used distinction burlington explain title vii antiretaliation provision must sweep broadly antidiscrimination provision order achieve purpose follow distinction status conduct irrelevant contrary burlington underscores fact discrimination retaliation distinct harms call tailored legislative treatment congress title vii host statutes enacted separate provisions prohibiting discrimination retaliation see brief petitioner citing statutes see also ante construing general ban discrimination contained cover retaliation render separate antiretaliation provisions superfluous contrary normal rules statutory interpretation course first time made points three terms ago jackson birmingham bd held title ix education amendments et prohibits recipients federal education funding discriminating basis sex affords implied cause action retaliation complain sex discrimination disregarded fundamental distinction discrimination retaliation asserting retaliation complain sex discrimination discrimination basis sex intentional response nature complaint allegation sex discrimination explained dissenting opinion jackson topic complaint overcome fact retaliation based anyone sex much less complainer sex likewise topic complaint overcome fact retaliation based anyone race hold otherwise ignore fact protection retaliation separate direct protection primary right discrimination serves prophylactic measure guard primary right see also burlington supra explaining title vii antidiscrimination provision seeks workplace individuals discriminated racial ethnic religious status whereas antiretaliation provision seeks secure primary objective preventing employer interfering retaliation employee efforts secure advance enforcement act basic guarantees words describe retaliation discrimination basis race conflate enforcement mechanism right something statute text provides warrant jackson supra thomas dissenting notably repeat jackson textual analysis case perhaps amount repetition make plausible today three years ago instead acknowledges statute language expressly refer claim individual black white suffers retaliation ante concludes however statute failure expressly provide cause action retaliation sufficient carry day despite usual rule affirmative evidence congressional intent must provided implied remedy without intent essential predicate implication private remedy simply exist alexander sandoval internal quotation marks emphasis deleted see also emphasizing absent evidence congress intent create cause action cause action exist courts may create one matter desirable might policy matter compatible statute section silence regarding retaliation dispositive says late day resort linguistic argument supposedly rejected sullivan little hunting park ante explain reliance sullivan entirely misplaced also bears emphasis even purport identify basis statutory text interpretation ante adopts first time today unlike find statute text dispositive terms prohibits discrimination based race retaliation discrimination based race provide implied cause action retaliation ii unable justify holding matter statutory interpretation today retreats behind figleaf ersatz stare decisis invocation stare decisis appears rest three considerations sullivan purported recognition cause action retaliation jackson interpretation sullivan courts appeals view provides cause action retaliation none considerations separately together justifies implying cause action congress include statute none conceal irony novel use stare decisis decide question first impression turn first sullivan bears weight analysis explained dissent jackson sullivan hol general prohibition discrimination permitted claim retaliation rather white lessor standing assert right black lessee free racial discrimination thus make claim behalf black lessee white lessor necessarily required demonstrate defendant discriminated black lessee basis race ibid contrast respondent need show race discrimination forming basis complaints actually occurred ibid accordingly jackson creates entirely new cause action secondary rights holder beyond claim original rights holder well beyond sullivan reexamined sullivan remain convinced standing case sullivan argue expulsion corporation opposed corporation refusal approve assignment violated instead argued expulsion contrary public policy direct result dealt freeman statute requires basis brief petitioners sullivan little hunting park sullivan contended rights violated ha standing rely rights negro freeman since best situated vindicate see also pet cert sullivan little hunting park although statute declares rights negroes discriminated sullivan caucasian standing rely invasion rights others since effective adversary capable vindicating litigation arising expulsion internal quotation marks omitted similarly appearing amicus curiae support sullivan argued private action involved refusing honor assignment illegal relief available persons injured consequence efforts resist brief thus sullivan argued sullivan standing seek relief injuries suffered result corporation violation freeman rights sullivan rights violated best interpretation subsequently held tracking parties arguments first concluded corporation refus al approve assignment membership share clearly interference freeman right conclude based barrows jackson standing case another white litigant permitted rely invasion rights others sullivan ha standing maintain action sullivan word retaliation appear opinion suggestion sullivan standing absent violation freeman rights course sullivan model clarity justice harlan writing dissent correct criticize undiscriminating manner dealt sullivan claims sullivan sought relief corporation refusal approve assignment expulsion stating sullivan standing maintain action specify relief sullivan entitled pursue remand lamenting failure provide guidance legal standards govern sullivan right recovery remand dissenting opinion justice harlan provided instructive summary ambiguities opinion one imagine variety standards based different legal conclusions created different remedial consequences example give sullivan right relief injuries resulting little hunting park interference statutory duty freeman sullivan duty freeman unless read impose duty sullivan protest freeman exclusion entitled reinstatement standard board expelled simple act assigning share freeman alternative sullivan might thought entitled relief injuries flowed board violation freeman standard might suggest sullivan entitled damages resulted little hunting park initial refusal accept assignment freeman reinstatement think gives sullivan right relief injuries result protest aimed convincing board accept freeman noteworthy three possible standards justice harlan outlined first two clearly depend showing freeman rights violated third think gives sullivan right relief injuries result protest resembles traditional retaliation claim context even probably best read presuppose sullivan protesting actual violation freeman rights standards mind anybody guess say thus adhere view sullivan best read standing case parties argued case natural reading opinion even sullivan fairly read inferred freestanding cause action retaliation doubt least without superimposing anachronistic outlook familiar retaliation claims today discussion issue best cursory ambiguous hardly stuff stare decisis made steadfastly refusing acknowledge ambiguity asserts surprising following sullivan federal appeals courts concluded basis sullivan reasoning encompassed retaliation claims ante given sullivan use word standing reliance standing case unsurprising cases cites either characterized issue one standing winston characterizing issue whether white plaintiff action standing sue former employer discharging alleged retaliation plaintiff protesting alleged discriminatory firing black recognized taking step beyond sullivan inferring cause action retaliation choudhury polytechnic inst stating second circuit ha never decided whether creates cause action retaliation even though previously held based sullivan white person claimed suffered reprisals result efforts vindicate rights standing sue goff continental oil recognizing sullivan previous fifth circuit decision relying sullivan essentially standing cases holding white people assert civil rights claims harmed someone discrimination blacks distinct holding particular type conduct retaliation filing law suit actionable first place moreover even sullivan squarely unambiguously held provides implied cause action retaliation wrong like prohibits discrimination based race retaliation discrimination based question whether extend sullivan erroneous interpretation treats foregone conclusion precedents long construed similarly ante erroneous precedents need extended logical end even dealing related provisions normally interpreted otherwise stare decisis designed principle stability repose become vehicle change whereby error one area metastasizes others thereby distorting law two wrongs make right aesthetic preference symmetry prevent us recognizing true meaning act congress remaining reasons invoking stare decisis require little discussion first relies fact jackson interpreted sullivan recognized cause action retaliation see ante true irrelevant loose language creative use brackets jackson able assert sullivan upheld sullivan cause action retaliation advocacy black person cause quoting sullivan brackets original course sullivan use word retaliation say anything cause action state sullivan rights certainly interpre general prohibition racial discrimination cover retaliation advocate rights groups protected prohibition jackson jackson assertion sullivan plainly held white owner maintain private cause action misses point entirely sullivan held white owner standing maintain suit said nothing suggest sue vindicate right free retaliation rather explained sullivan standing derivative violation freeman rights short jackson characterization sullivan erroneous aware principle stare decisis requires us give decisive weight precedent erroneous characterization another precedent particularly cases involved different statutes neither statute issue case bar second appears give weight fact since congress passed civil rights act stat lower courts uniformly interpreted encompassing retaliation actions ante rationale fares better others never suggested rejection view uniformly held courts appeals violates principle stare decisis contrary hesitated take different view convinced lower courts wrong indeed become something dissenter tactic point decided question differently every appeals considered see mcconnell federal election thomas concurring part concurring result part concurring judgment part dissenting part buckhannon board care home west virginia dept health human resources ginsburg dissenting sandoval stevens dissenting jones kennedy dissenting mcnally stevens dissenting explain makes particular line lower authority sacrosanct rejected past course lower decisions may persuasive rejects unanimous position courts appeals fair point fact point traction extent tends show reasoning flawed merits demonstrated number judges reached opposite conclusion see buckhannon supra ginsburg dissenting rejects considered judgment prevailing circuits respect colleagues demands cogent explanation unlike decisions decisions courts appeals even unanimous carry stare decisis weight relieve us obligation independently decide merits question presented affirmed view unanimously held courts appeals done least today gave precedential weight lower courts decisions agreed resolution question merits see gonzalez crosby virtually every appeals consider question held pleading substance successive habeas petition think holdings correct lampf pleva lipkind prupis petigrow gilbertson thus agree every appeals called upon apply federal statute limitations claim iii jackson question us whether prohibits retaliation whether prohibiting good policy thomas dissenting crafting additional enforcement mechanism majority returns days created remedies whole cloth effectuate vision congressional purpose ibid guise stare decisis make decision justifiable text provides basis implying private right action retaliation decision holds contrary reverse judgment footnotes appearing amicus curiae support respondent contends prohibits racial discrimination also kind discrimination impair rights guaranteed brief support argument points provides rights protected section protected impairment nongovernmental discrimination impairment color state law thus argument goes retaliation prohibited discrimination differential treatment complain impairs right granted free racial discrimination making enforcement contracts penalizing assertion right although commend least attempting ground position statutory text argument unconvincing section simply codifies holding runyon mccrary applies private well governmental discrimination nothing indicates congress otherwise intended expand scope contrary refers rights protected section rights enumerated make enforce contracts terms white citizens moreover word discrimination refer discrimination see brief amicus curiae rather refers back type discrimination prohibited discrimination based race thus violated racial discrimination impairs right make enforce contracts course employer different retaliation policy blacks whites firing black employees complain race discrimination firing similarly situated white employees black employee fired complaining race discrimination promising claim claim sound retaliation rather straightforward claim racial discrimination briefs respondent attempts shoehorn claim category asserting petitioner retaliated black worker exercised right lodge grievance petitioner policy brief respondent see also ection forbids employer one dismissal policy blacks complain race discrimination another whites complain discrimination respondent cites record evidence support assertion petitioner treated differently treated similarly situated white complainant appeals found respondent established prima facie case retaliation identify evidence permit jury conclude alleged retaliation race based indeed appeals held respondent waived discrimination claim devoting skeletal argument response petitioner motion summary judgment contrast argument based consistently tied violation freeman rights sullivan also argued first amendment rights violated since sullivan expulsion retaliation obeyed dictate law expulsion public policy reinstated law sanction punishment person sullivan refusing discriminate negroes render nugatory rights guaranteed negroes furthermore giving sanction sullivan expulsion state deprived sullivan rights guaranteed first amendment criticize conduct association directors brief petitioners emphasis added majority claims sullivan embrace linguistic argument ante argument corporation argue text reasonably construed create cause action retaliation justice harlan dissent one made argument issue framed either sullivan majority suggests argument apparent time decided sullivan ibid evidence cites justice harlan observation holding jones alfred mayer prohibits private well governmental discrimination way required language sullivan fail see observation justice harlan observation sullivan gone yet beyond jones shows considered rejected entirely different argument text provide cause action retaliation example refused extend holding case borak inferred private right action violations securities exchange act sections act borak applied understanding later abandoned cort ash duty courts alert provide remedies necessary make effective congressional purpose expressed statute chief judge easterbrook explained dissent analogy present case obvious argument goes sullivan ignored language drafted version statute free today neighbor requires us proceed otherwise borak dealt securities exchange act freewheeling law sullivan yet held change interpretive method announced cort applies sections securities exchange act see piper industries touche ross redington borak similar decisions overruled told uncertain terms must extended indeed virginia bankshares sandberg declined apply borak portion involved borak case limited single sentence one subsection may method sullivan applied sections civil rights act despite intervening precedent citations omitted