Racial Thinking: What is it? Isn't the past world a question of race? Do races even exist, and if so, what does it mean to have a racial identity? Is color blindness possible and how important is it? These are the questions that Paul Taylor addresses in the book “Race: A Philosophical Introduction”. Paul Taylor is a self-proclaimed “radical constructionist” who will argue that race is very real in our world and in the United States as a whole (p. 80). Taylor makes sure to address real needs regarding racial dynamics in the United States, referencing historical events, prevailing political issues, and even pop culture to explain that anyone capable of forming opinions should have some sort of understanding of the concept of race . thought. As Taylor will analyze, race and racial thinking “have shaped and continue to shape private interactions as well as larger political choices” (p. 8). In other words, racial thinking encompasses everything we do and every interaction we have. In this article I will attempt to interpret and expound Taylor's views and definitions of race, the concepts associated with race, and insert my own interpretations as appropriate. The first part of the text concerns the analysis of race theory. Taylor opens the book by taking time to clarify human forms in such a way as to simplify the too often rudimentary things that distinguish race from other notions. Taylor takes pains to explain in depth how philosophy, regarding race, “involves the study of the consequences of racial discourse, the practices of racial identification for which racial discourse provides the resources” (p. 11). In other words, Taylor takes on the task of evaluating the meaning assigned to physical bodies by people. He does this by first answering the question c...... middle of the paper......we are aware of our familiarity): endogamy, affirmative action, white supremacy and ethics related to the above. Regarding endogamy: Does a black man have an obligation to marry a black woman solely for the purpose of preventing and encouraging unity against white supremacy? Are we too concerned with our individual goals that we abandon common goals by denouncing affirmative action and failing to realize the community effect this has on our educational freedoms? For Taylor, these are not individual attacks or insults, but rather carefully constructed racial patterns and habits. (p. 176). From my perspective, while these issues may not always seem personal or of interest to specific individuals, Taylor highlights the importance of cohesive social awareness. Works Cited Taylor, Paul C. Race: A Philosophical Introduction. Cambridge, UK: Polity, 2004. Print.