The essays and commentaries in this volume on racial diversity and higher education are grouped into three parts. The first offers a broad perspective and an historical review of the complex history of the United States' effort to achieve racial diversity; the second notes empirical studies of the extent of racial disparities in academic preparation and performance; and the third considers racial diversity from a broad societal viewpoint. The essays and commentaries are: (1) "Promise and Dilemma: Incorporating Racial Diversity in Selective Higher Education" (Eugene Y. Lowe, Jr.); (2) "Promoting High Academic Achievement among Non-Asian Minorities" (L. Scott Miller); (3) "A Threat in the Air: How Stereotypes Shape Intellectual Identity and Performance" (Claude M. Steele); (4) "A Practitioner's View from Texas: Comments on the Essays by L. Scott Miller and Claude M. Steel" (Philip Uri Treisman); (5) "Assessment and Student Diversity: Comments on the Essays by L. Scott Miller and Claude M. Steele" (Richard J. Light); (6) "Equity and Excellence--Strange Bedfellows? A Case Study of South African Higher Education" (Mamphela Ramphele); (7) "Facing the Dilemmas of Difference: Comments on the Essay by Mamphela Ramphele" (Randall Kennedy); (8) "Problematics of Affirmative Action: A View from California" (Neil J. Smelser); and (9) "What a University Can Learn and Teach about Conflict and Difference: Comments on the Essay by Neil J. Smelser" (Chang-Lin Tien). An epilogue by the editor completes the volume. (Individual papers contain references.) (DB)