Ethics and Race

Naomi Zack is professor of philosophy at Lehman College, CUNY. Her recent books are: The American Tragedy of COVID-19: Social and Political Crises of 2020 (2021), Progressive Anonymity: From Identity Politics to Evidence-Based Government (2020); Reviving the Social Compact: Inclusive Citizenship in an Age of Extreme Politics (2018).

• Preface and Acknowledgments Part I: Ideas and History of Race1. What are Ethics and Race?What is Ethics?What is Race?“Judged by the Content of Their Character” 2. Democracy and Social EthicsRace, Friendship, and MarriageThe Tragedy of the CommonsThe Common Good3. The History of Race and RacismRacism as IdeologyThe History of Ideas of RaceWhite Supremacy and Eugenics4. Science and RaceMoral Reasoning and RaceRace in Society and Social ScienceThe Lack of Physical Biology in RaceIntellectual Virtue, Science, and RacePart II: Law and Policy5. Civil Rights and Political RightsThe US Civil Rights MovementThe Voting Rights Act and Its ReversalsWelfare as Positive Rights6. ImmigrationUS Immigration Before and After 1965The Moral Issue of DACA7. Affirmative Action and DiversityThe History of Affirmative Action and DiversityAffirmative Action and Diversity Today: Comparisons and Pros and Cons8. Compensation, Reparation, Rectification, and ReconciliationCompensationReparationRectificationReconciliationPart III: Social Institutions9. The US Criminal Justice SystemPunishmentDemographicsReform Projects Impacting Prisoners of Color10. Police ReformPolice Actions in High-Profile KillingsUS Supreme Court Rulings and Police ImpunityPolice Reform and Its Obstacles11. Dignity, Income, and WealthRacial Minorities and Economic DignityIncomeWealth12. EducationThe Structure of the US Educational SystemLeisure Versus WorkControversial Content13. Health and DisabilityDisparities in Racial and Ethnic HealthWellness and FoodDisabilities and Mental HealthPart IV: Social Disruptions14. Everyday RacismPlace SegregationAnti-Racist Coping StrategiesMicroaggressionWhite Privilege and White Status15. Hate Speech and Hate CrimesHate SpeechHate CrimesReporting and Punishing Hate Crimes16. Protests from the Left and RightProtests from the LeftProtests from the RightDo Protests Work?Part V: Identity and Representation17. Mixed RaceMixed Race and Social ConstructionThe Importance of the One-Drop RuleMoral Aspects of Mixed-Race Identity18. Race, Ethnicity, and CultureComplexities of Jewish IdentityResistant Indigenous IdentityCosmopolitan Ideals19. Intersectionality and GenderBlack Women’s RecognitionConstructions of Black Male GenderLatina identities20. Representation in Media and SocietyLatina RepresentationAsian-American RepresentationMemorials for African Americans and Native Americans21. SportHow Racism in Sport has Mirrored SocietyVulnerabilities of AthletesHow Star Athletes Have Spoken Out Against InjusticePart VI – The Natural and International World22. Natural DisasterDisaster and Racial Social ConstructionPreparationComparing Harvey and Maria23. COVID-19Increasingly Violent Racism Against Asian Americans and Jewish AmericansPandemic Effects on African Americans, Hispanic/Latinx Americans, and Native Americans 24. Global Issues and HumanitarianismThe Capabilities ApproachThe Human Security ParadigmClimate Change and HumanityGlossaryAbout the Author

In Ethics and Race, Zack focuses on the intersection of philosophical ethics with race studies. The book is designed for lower-level semester courses and begins by examining ethics and race separately to enable readers to access definitions, issues, and diverse perspectives. As an introductory text, the book simplifies many ideas. For teaching purposes, a background in philosophy will help with unpacking terminology, advanced explanations, and logical argumentation. Such a background will also allow students to move into deeper discussions and to better analyze the complexities and perspectives discussed. This reviewer therefore strongly recommends this volume for philosophical classroom use. The book can also be read successfully outside a course as it offers an expansive discussion of ethics and race, both individually and as they intersect. For those outside academia, this book is an excellent way to enter these difficult conversations but will require more detailed readings for readers to gain proficiency in the subject matter. Highly recommended. General readers through faculty.