In the spirit of previous classics like Outlaw Culture and Reel to Real, this new collection of compelling essays interrogates contemporary cultural notions of race, gender, and class. From the films Precious and Crash to recent biographies of Malcolm X and Henrietta Lacks, hooks offers provocative insights into the way race is being talked about in this "post-racial" era.

Introduction -- Racism : naming what hurts -- Moving past blame : embracing diversity -- Solidarity : women and race relations -- Help wanted : re-imagining the past -- Interrogating : the reinvention of Malcolm X -- Tragic biography : resurrecting Henrietta Lacks -- A path away from race : on spiritual conversion -- Talking trash : a dialogue about crash -- A pornography of violence : the movie precious -- A community of caring -- Bonding across boundaries -- Everyday resistance : saying no to white supremacy -- Against mediocrity -- Black self-determination -- Ending racism : working for change -- Writing beyond race -- The practice of love.