not as monolithic, cohesive white and black communities. Although social
proximity has generated conflict as well as cooperation between the two
races, it has also eliminated each race's profound ignorance of the other.
Furthermore, the growing racial and ethnic complexity so evident in Amer-
ican cities challenges the assumption that America is a society that is neatly
divided between blacks and whites. The new Betty Crocker, unveiled by
General Mills in early 1996, best illustrates the changing realities of race re-
lations. This newly designed corporate "spokesperson," meant to personify
the ideal American woman, is not an unambiguously white American but a
computer-generated composite incorporating white, black, Native Ameri-
can, and Asian features.

Getting Beyond Race discusses various strategies for society's continuing
evolution in directions in which race no longer matters. It suggests that in-
stead of concentrating on failures, Americans should emphasize their suc-
cesses. By focusing on what is positive in race relations, Americans create a
model for future success. The book argues that, while group identity can be
a source of strength, a broader concept of human virtues and a focus on
what Americans have in common are ultimately more helpful to disadvan-
taged Americans in particular and American society in general. Because
race relations are ultimately about ordinary people interacting with each
other on an individual basis, much of this book concentrates primarily on
individuals and small groups whose activities are helping to reduce the sig-
nificance of race in society.

Now that the legal foundation for racial equality is largely in place,
greater emphasis must be placed on individual behavior. The tendency to
focus on the big picture of racial issues often obscures the fact that the most
important changes in race relations are occurring at the grassroots level.
The bottom-up approach endorsed by this book presents a more hopeful
and constructive view of race relations than is usual. Based on extensive in-
terviews with ordinary Americans, participant observation, public opinion
polls, and exhaustive research, this book concludes that most Americans
strongly desire to move beyond race and that they are making significant
progress toward that goal.

Chapter 1 discusses the need to reframe racial issues. It suggests strate-
gies for getting beyond the habit of blaming others and the zero-sum ap-
proach to race relations. How we choose to perceive others and ourselves
directly affects our attitudes and behavior toward them as well as their atti-
tudes and behavior toward us. The chapter further argues that stressing dif-
ferences instead of common concerns inevitably leads to treating people dif-
ferently, not equally. Indeed, drawing attention to racial differences can
inadvertently make a victim feel responsible for the actions of a victimizer
by subtly reinforcing stereotypes of inferiority and superiority based on
race. Chapter 1 suggests that by embracing positive American values, build-

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