"I'm not a Racist, but..."

Lawrence Blum is Professor of Philosophy and Distinguished Professor of Liberal Arts and Education at the University of Massachusetts, Boston. His previous books include Moral Perception and Particularity and Friendship, Altruism, and Morality.

• 1. "Racism": Its Core Meaning2. Can Blacks Be Racist?3. Varieties of Racial Ills4. Racial Discrimination and Color Blindness5. "Race": What We Mean and What We Think We Mean6. "Race": A Brief History, with Moral Implications7. Do Races Exist?8. Racialized Groups and Social Constructions9. Should We Try to Give Up Race?NotesBibliographyIndex

Blum's thoughts support his main argument: that calm, reasoned deliberation about injustices can give us the moral vocabulary we need to do better as a society.(Boston Review) Discussing various scholarly perspectives on the construction of racial categories, Blum calls for a balance between 'ridding ourselves of the myth of race' and understanding the role of race in social inequality and in history.(Publishers Weekly) Few topics are in such desperate need of clear analysis as the subject of race.... In this concise volume, Blum brings the precision of a moral philosopher to bear on this perennial American dilemma, with generally helpful results.... A fresh and important contribution to applied social philosophy, recommended for general readers, upper-division undergraduates, graduate students, and faculty.(Choice) In his informative treatment of the concept of racism, Lawrence Blum is most concerned with the dangers of over-appropriation. He fears that the accusation 'racist' is now used so casually and widely that it is in danger of loosing its power to shame.... His is a book that can help untangle many of the individual issues that racism raises and is a most important contribution to the growing field of applied educational and social philosophy.(Teachers College Record) This is a useful reference for anyone who wishes to think intelligently about the problem of race.(MultiCultural Review) This is a very thoughtful work on a sensitive subject, a good and practical work for all readers interested in race relations.(Booklist)