THINKING ABOUT RACE offers a concise, provocative introduction to the often overlooked, yet ever-salient body of philosophical thought regarding the nature and impact of race on our lives. Not only does the book address the essence of race and ethnicity as philosophical concepts, it also focuses on the social realities and implications of race as they affect the realms of public policy, sexuality, and social class.

Zack (philosophy, U. of Oregon) applies philosophical methods to the problem of race. She describes the history of the concept of race, its cultural meanings, and the dearth of real scientific proof of racial difference, and the social reality of race that nevertheless occurs. She examines the issues of mixed race, ethnicity, whiteness, and racial and ethnic identity. Zack also addresses public policy and affirmative action, the issues of race relative to gender, including a discussion of race, romance and sexuality, and race relative to class. In each section Zack suggests discussion questions and recommends readings. This edition includes new material on the 2000 US census data, the 2003 US Supreme Court ruling on affirmative action, the lack of a racial component in genetics, and the role of the media in questions of race.
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Naomi Zack (Ph.D., Columbia University) is the author of RACE AND MIXED RACE (1993), PHILOSOPHY OF SCIENCE AND RACE (2002), and INCLUSIVE FEMINISM (2005). She is the editor of AMERICAN MIXED RACE (1995), RACE/SEX (1997), and WOMEN OF COLOR AND PHILOSOPHY (2000). She is now Professor of Philosophy at the University of Oregon where her primary research interests include the philosophy of race, seventeenth century philosophy, and feminism.

Introduction. 1. What is Race? 2. The Social Reality of Race. 3. Mixed Race. 4. Ethnicity. 5. Racism. 6. Public Policy and Affirmative Action. 7. Whiteness. 8. Racial and Ethnic Identity. 9. Race and Gender. 10. Race, Romance and Sexuality. 11. Race and Social Class. Glossary. Bibliography. Index.