"This book presents the last major public lecture by philosopher Charles Mills, with comments by five contributors. Mills argues that John Rawls, the dominant political philosopher of the last fifty years, exemplifies liberal political philosophers historic neglect of systemic racial injustice. Rawlss theory of justice does not apply to systemically unjust societies such as the U.S. It cannot generate principles of corrective racial justice due to its focus on principles of justice for ideal societies. By analyzing racial injustice in our non-ideal world, Mills develops principles of corrective racial justice that can guide antiracist action. Samuel Freeman counters that Rawlss theory offers effective guidelines for addressing most racial injustices. Ideal theories are needed to set the terms, standards, and goals needed for corrective justice.

Anthony Laden agrees that Rawlss theory provides useful if not indispensable tools for racial justice. However, Rawlss theory needs amendments to make this possible. Nikhil Singh shows how Rawlss focus on class rather than racial injustice reflected the optimism and shifting priorities of civil rights advocates in his day. Although Rawlss optimism proved mistaken, racial injustice cannot be corrected without addressing class injustice. Michele Moody-Adams, while defending Rawlss stress on purely forward-looking principles of justice in its historical context, argues that achieving racial justice requires moving beyond Rawls. Social justice movements should not be constrained by Rawlss principle of public reason. Elizabeth Anderson defends the priority of non-ideal theorizing in social justice movements, which should be taken in more pragmatist directions"-- Provided by publisher.