The Philosophy of Race

"Atkins crisply addresses the ongoing reality of race and racism after the disconnection of race from biological science. Comprehensive, balanced, clear, engaging and accessible for all academic levels." - Naomi Zack, Professor of Philosophy, University of Oregon 'This book is ideal for those working in the human and social sciences, although the author's easy to follow argumentation makes it accessible to non-academics who are simply interested in the current debate surrounding race.' - Ethical Perspectives

"Race" is so highly charged and loaded a concept it often hampers critical thinking about racial practice and policy. A philosophical approach allows us to isolate and analyse the key questions: What is race? Can we do without race? What is racism and why is it wrong? What should our policies on race and racism be? The Philosophy of Race presents a concise and up-to-date overview of the central philosophical debates about race. It then builds on this philosophical foundation to analyse the sociopolitical questions of racism and race-relevant policy. Throughout, the discussion is illustrated with a wide range of examples: Afro-American 'blackness'; British-Asian racial formation; Aboriginal identity in Australia; the racial grouping of Romany-Gypsies and Jews in Europe; categories of race in Brazil; and the concept of model minorities in the US and UK.