Getting Real About Race

Book excerpt: This popular reader is an edited collection of short essays that address the most common myths and misconceptions about race and racism held by students, and by many in the United States in general. In the updated Second Edition of Getting Real About Race, editors Stephanie M. McClure and Cherise A. Harris continue to enlist leading experts and educators to address the arguments about topics that students will recognize from private conversations and public discourse, including colorblindness, meritocracy, educational attainment, and definitions of citizenship. Each essay considers the evidence against one particular racial myth, and is written in clear, jargon-free language. The unique format of this book makes it especially conducive to productive discussions about race.