Racial Liberalism and the Politics of Urban America examines the philosophical and political framework that informs public policy impacting racially and ethnically diverse American cities in the twenty-first century. In their analyses of the intersection between race and public policy, contributors to this volume explore the racial character of historical and contemporary American liberalism and draw upon data from the 2000 U.S. Census on topics such as healthcare, the environment, residential segregation, and the changing meanings of race. Consistent with Michigan State University's Race in 21st Century America Conference project, the essays, which reflect genuine racial, intellectual, and ideological diversity, explore the idea and consequences of race in the United States and suggest fresh approaches toward overcoming the persistent and deep racial gap in life opportunities between whites and people of color.