The Least of These: Race, Law, and Religion in American Culture

First published in 1997. Examining race, law, and religion in today's America, The Least of These highlights the power of these principles to both divide and unite, and promotes a new form of liberalism that incorporates the spiritual values long neglected by earlier progressive liberals. Relaunching the fundamental tenet of progressive liberalism-that a justly ordered society must protect the interests and promote opportunities for the least advantaged of its population-Anthony Cook argues for a revival of the progressive vision of American politics. While the affirmative action debates smolder around the country, Cook contends that the spiritual foundation of this liberal tenet must be unearthed and elaborated to fit our times before we can attempt to tackle the issues that the civil rights era has left unanswered. As the twentieth century closes, The Least of These provides a greater understanding of the roots of our ongoing socio-political struggles, and serves as an invaluable profile of progressive liberal politics from World War II to the present.

Table of Contents:
Introduction; Part 1 The Quest for a Common Faith in American Progressive Liberalism; intro2 Introduction; Chapter 1 John Dewey and the Quest for a Common Faith; Chapter 2 Legal Realism and the Quest for a Common Faith; Part 2 God and Democracy; intro3 Introduction; Chapter 3 Institutionalizing the Christian Value of Love through the Social Gospel; Chapter 4 Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. and the African-American Religious Origins of the Beloved Community; Chapter 5 The Spiritual, Social and Strategic Dimensions of the Beloved Community; Part 3 The Beloved Community; intro4 Introduction; Chapter 6 Toward a Normative Framework of a Love-Based Community; Chapter 7 Racism and the Price of Denial; Chapter 8 Toward a Progressive Liberal Understanding of Racism; Chapter 9 Where Progressive Liberalism Went Wrong in the Affirmative Action Debate;

About the Author :
Anthony E. Cook

Review :
"Anthony Cook's powerful book is a pioneering work that connects legal theory, religious thought, American Studies, and race in a fascinating manner. How refreshing it is to have such a sophisticated legal scholar put forward a progressive religiospiritual vision of racial and economic justice!" -- Cornel West, Harvard University "The Least of These provides a religious and spiritual framework for the progressive vision of America and reminds us of the essential place of compassion and spirituality in creating a more just and egalitarian world." -- William H. Gray, III, President, United Negro College Fund "Critical race theory wants to bring race to the very center of the analysis of most situations," said Professor Anthony Cook.."Its assumption is that race has affected our perception of reality and our understanding of the world-in almost every way."