This text explores two forms of hate and prejudice – racism in contemporary American society and the historical occurrence of anti-Semitism – under a single conceptual framework.

Jack Levin, is a well-known scholar, author, and lecturer on the subject of hate crimes. In this book he shows how support for both racism and anti-Semitism can be conceptualized as occurring among four groups: hatemongers, dabblers, sympathizers, and spectators. Levin argues that hate and prejudice continue at a very dangerous level in our society, and that hate typically emanates not from the ranting and raving of a few people at the margins of society, but from ordinary people in the mainstream.

Jim Nolan , new to this edition, is an Associate Professor at West Virginia University, and a former FBI agent, specializing in hate crimes and prejudice.