This history of the concept of race in the United States identifies its roots in the pernicious doctrine of white supremacy. Clear in his assertion that "the race problem in America" is a white problem, Hirsch emphasizes the role of science in giving power and meaning to ideas about race from colonial times till the nineteen seventies. Solid analysis traces the interplay of popular conceptions of race with the scientific research that ultimately refutes them. Straightforward description of racist cruelty and appalling massacres punctuate the discussion so that the full and horrible impact of white supremacy cannot be denied. Dated only in its terminology, this documentary stands as a place to begin to grapple with the roots of racism in the United States.

Traces the history of research on race, showing how it both influenced and was influenced by the political and social significance of race in United States history.