"Richard Ford has come along and done the impossible: He's rendered a book about the relationship between Blacks and Whites in America in Technicolor. Engagingly written and urgently argued, Ford's take on how identity politics in America have gone horribly wrong manages to be both provocative and fair. Pulling string from both pop culture and serious legal thought, this book should be read by anyone interested in getting out of the depressing cycle of race-scandal, recrimination, race-scandal, that has come to characterize the national conversation about getting along." 

— Dahlia Lithwick, Slate columnist

"Rich Ford brings together here his deep knowledge of the law, his intense sensitivity as a reader of contemporary culture, his deep seriousness, and his wonderful sense of humor—and harnesses them all to an immensely important question: now that our civil rights regime is more than 50 years old, can we change it to deliver on our promise of racial justice?  His answer is yes, but only if we're willing to kill cows that have become sacred to the left as well as to the right. This profound book should change the terms of the debate—and change what we actually do. If you're ready to question some of what you think you know about race and equality in America—read this book." 

— Janet Halley, Royall Professor of Law, Harvard Law School

"Analysts of racial controversies are typically either clearly identifiable as conservative or liberal. And their discussions are almost always deadly serious. In The Race Card, Richard Thompson Ford is none of these. He invigorates otherwise stale debate about race-related controversies with the fresh air of insight that doesn't hew to any ideological line. Ford's analysis may well stir the ire of those on both sides of the political divide. The Race Card is not only incisive and idiosyncratic, it is also witty and entertaining. Ford makes even well worn debates seem new and interesting. This book provides a vision of how to move beyond our current racial impasse. It's a good read too!" 

— R. Richard Banks, Jackson Eli Reynolds Professor of Law, Stanford Law School

"A well-considered, nuanced look at 'post-racist' America. Since the 1960s, writes Ford (Law/Stanford; Racial Culture, 2004), racism has become socially and legally unacceptable, reflecting a major change in our values. Today's racism is far more complex and ambiguous, a matter of interpretation and a card that can be played to one's advantage. Supreme Court nominee Clarence Thomas accused his critics of bigotry; Michael Jackson blamed prejudice for his declining album sales; Oprah Winfrey suggested skin color was a factor in her being turned away by a chic Paris store; O.J. Simpson's lawyers alleged his framing by racist cops. Since such accusations are plausible in America, Ford avers, questionable claims are often made. His reasoned text delves behind the headlines to examine these and lesser-known accusations of bias. He finds an instance of 'racism without racists' in Katrina-ravaged New Orleans, where government ineptitude combined with the legacy of pre-civil-rights-era housing segregation to victimize African-Americans. Elsewhere, he sees accusations of 'racism by analogy' when people charge discrimination over their size or appearance, as if to invoke the Civil Rights Act, which prohibits discrimination strictly on the basis of 'race, color, sex, national origin, or religion.' Noting that there has never been a 'weight riot,' he explains, 'Weightism or lookism aren't problems of social order or of social injustice.' The real danger in unmerited charges of racism, Ford concludes, is that they draw attention to trivial slights and distract from the pressing need to address larger social injustices. He writes with authority, fairness and even humor as he examines profiling, affirmative action and other issues, reminding us that we have come a long way on race but still have a great distance to go. Provides welcome perspective on an explosive topic." 

— Kirkus Reviews

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