In Bazemore v. Friday, 478 U.S. 385 (1986), black employees of the North Carolina Agri cultural Extension Service, who received less pay than comparable whites under a differential compensation plan extending back to pre-Title VII segregation, brought suit in 1971 claiming that pay disparities persisted. Id., at 389-391. The Court concluded that a pattern or practice that would have constituted a violation of Title VII, but for the fact that the statute had not yet become effective, became a violation upon Title VIIs effective date, and to the ex tent an employer continued to engage in that act or prac tice, it is liable under that statute. Id., at 395.