Now featuring a new section on public policy, and a wide range of new essays by many of the liveliest and most exciting figures in ethnic studies, this updated edition of a remarkably successful text introduces students to the diverse points of view on race and ethnicity in the U.S. Arranged in debate format, the essays address vital questions: How have the experiences of racial minorities in the United States been similar to and different from each other? Is "race" the same as "ethnicity"? How has culture shaped race and ethnic relations? What has been the relationship between race and class? How can race and gender be compared? Moreover, how can racial inequality be explained, and what public policies or strategies are needed to address it? One third of the selections are new, examining affirmative action, welfare dependency, and the Los Angeles riots, and including a debate between Arthur Schlesinger, Jr., and the editor on multicultural curricula and the campus "culture wars." Providing a fresh new look at America's complex and unique ethnic heritage, this text makes an invaluable contribution to any course on race, ethnicity, or social stratification.