Stars and Shadows - The Politics of Interracial Friendship from Jefferson to Obama

Stars and Shadows is the first work in American political history to offer a comprehensive historical view of how the often-overlooked virtue of friendship has come to shape the possibilities for democratic politics in America. Covering ten cases, Ambar''s study illuminates how the personal bonds of friendship have proven critical to understanding the potential for a vigorous multiracial democracy over time. Ambar develops a working theory of multiracial democracy that demands more of us as citizens: a commitment to honestly engage one another, and perhaps most importantly, to engage our past with even greater courage and trust.