"The title of this book, Racial Unity: An Imperative for Social Progress, originated from a series of lectures I gave at various universities in Canada and the United States during the late 1980s. As a result of long years of teachings about the history of racism, I felt compelled to include the history of "the other tradition" of American race relations, namely: the history of the interracial struggle for racial justice, unity, love, and fellowship." Richard W. Thomas, Preface to the first edition.