During the past decade the teaching of race and ethnicity has become a
n important part of the core curriculum in a variety of social science
s and humanities departments. There have also been substantive changes
in how the subject is understood and how it is taught. This article o
utlines some of the key features of these changes and reviews some of
the core themes which are raised in the various disciplinary perspecti
ves contained in this special issue. It situates some of the common th
emes that are to be found across the various disciplines covered in th
is issue and it pinpoints areas which need more research and critical
debate in the future if we are to move forward in our thinking about h
ow to teach race and-ethnic issues in the present academic environment
.