Racial Thinking in the United States – Uncompleted Independence: African American Intellectual Heritage

Racial Thinking in the United States is a comprehensive reassessment of the ideas that Americans have had about race. This useful book draws on the skills and perspectives of nine scholars from the fields of history, sociology, theology, American studies, and ethnic studies. In thirteen carefully crafted essays they tell the history of the American system of racial domination and of twentieth-century challenges to that racial hierarchy, from monoracial movements to the multiracial movement. The volume provides excellent summaries of historical events and cultural movements, as well as analysis and criticism. It will be a welcome text for undergraduate courses in ethnic studies and American history.

“This collection is stunning. The editors’ introduction offers a superb brief discussion of the meaning of the term “race,” and the essays are vigorous, sophisticated, earnest, interesting, and honest. It ought to be read widely.” —Winthrop D. Jordan, William F. Winter Professor of History and of Afro-American Studies, F.A.P. Barnard Distinguished Professor, University of Mississippi

“This is a splendid book. It should end up as required reading for courses in Ethnic Studies departments.” —Patrick Miller, Northeastern Illinois University