The focus here is on American racial inequality. Valls (Oregon State) focuses on the perpetual plight of African Americans regarding liberty, equality, and justice, all of which ought to be granted to citizens of the US. This is a long-standing problem. It is argued that neither the racial injustices of the past nor present racial injustices have been addressed in any concrete way and that unless a massive shift occurs in American culture, the immediate future
does not project to be any different...Though relying on various academic texts to support his arguments, the author has written a clear, accessible text. This is an important, unflinching look at a shameful part of American life, and its pages ought to have a wide audience.
Andrew Valls is Professor of Political Science at Oregon State University.