An examination of American attitudes toward race and racial policies. This book shows that racial resentment powerfully affects white opinion on such issues as: welfare, affirmative action, school desegregation, and the plight of the inner city. The opinions of black Americans are also studied.

Acknowledgments 1: Race and Democratic Aspirations in America 2: The Racial Divide in Public Opinion 3: No Single Sovereign Theory Will Do: Multiple Interpretations of Public Opinion on Race 4: Threat and Advantage 5: Subtle Prejudice for Modern Times 6: Matters of Principle 7: Framing the Issue: Elite Discourse and Public Understanding 8: The Electoral Temptations of Race 9: Benign Neglect and Racial Codewords in the 1988 Presidential Campaign 10: Racial Politics and Democratic Ideals Appendix A: More on the Meaning and Measurement of Prejudice Appendix B: Specifications and Results Notes References Index