I enjoyed listening to Frank Wu on CSPAN. I agree with him in many ways that people automatically assume things about you when you are of a certain ethinic stereotype. But a strongly agree with another reviewer about including South Asians and Hispanics (Hispanics who are actually the largest minority race). South Asians for many reasons because they go through the exact same things as others have...and especially after Sept. 11...the "Middle Eastern" profile...that's just dispicable. Those of the South Asian countries such as India, Nepal and Sri Lanka are all non-Muslim but still get stereotyper just because of their skin color. It goes to show how ignorant most Americans are. Also I don't believe at all in hyphinating Americans. But all people of color share a common bond that they have ALL been discriminated against by whites. And that's the plain and outright truth whether the whites want to hear it or not. Not only have they been discriminated against in America but their own countries which goes to prove that racism exists in all and it's most cruel forms. But, I'm glad to see white America changing. And the fact is that white America is the one that needs to assimilate into the multi-ethnic culture, which is the true represenatative culture of this great nation. Politically correct has nothing to do with it.

If you have the reasonable expectation that the author of any book on race is unlikely to share all your views, then I'd recommend that you read this book. I like this book because it provides one viewpoint that is unique in many ways and is therefore a good addition to any person's collection of thoughts on race relations (whether you agree with Wu or not). By the way, Wu's opinions are his own, as he points out himself, and do not represent THE "Asian" viewpoint (there's no such thing). The following arguments are particularly interesting:

1. Wu argues that Asian-Americans ought to support affirmative action for underrepresented minority groups even if they themselves are not included, saying that this will put the needs of the nation at large ahead of self-centered gain. (Contrast this with the writings of K. Anthony Appiah, Dinesh D'Souza and Shelby Steele, for example, for 4 incredibly disparate views of affirmative action by 4 people of color).
2. Wu also presents a case against racial profiling in spite of the fact that he thinks it is sometimes both rational and non-racist (!)
3. Wu dissects the question "Where are you really from?" and explains how it reflects the "perpetual foreigner" stereotype of people of Asian descent.

Overall, this book was a thought-provoking, sometimes troubling, always interesting read.

I would have thought that after the Murrah building disaster in 1995(at the hands of a non-hyphenated white man), you might be able to take the illiterate Okie out of some people. I guess not.