Joe R. Feagin is a U.S. sociologist and social theorist who has conducted extensive research on racial and gender issues, especially in regard to the United States. He is currently the Ella C. McFadden Distinguished Professor at Texas A&M University. Feagin has done much research work on race and ethnic relations and has served as the scholar in residence at the U.S. Commission on Civil Rights. He has written over 60 books, one of which (Ghetto Revolts) was nominated for a Pulitzer Prize. He is the 2006 recipient of a Harvard Alumni Association achievement award and was the 1999-2000 president of the American Sociological Association.

A wonderfully vivid account of how children learn about the 'first R'—race—even before they start school. The authors show how children as young as three have entered into and are experimenting with the tangled ideologies of race of the adult world.

• Chapter 1 PrefaceChapter 2 Young Children Learning Racial and Ethnic MattersChapter 3 Using Racial-Ethnic Distinctions to Define SelfChapter 4 Play Groups and Racial MattersChapter 5 Using Racial-Ethnic Concepts to Define Other PeopleChapter 6 How Adults View ChildrenChapter 7 Conclusion: What and How Do Children Learn about Racial and Ethnic Matters?Chapter 8 A Postscript: What Can Be Done?