Sleeper said since college he has made a commitment to understanding racism. His most recent book, Liberal Racism, tries to explain how fixating on race subverts the functioning of American society.
He said that, though race relations in America have improved, the media and others continue to describe racism as a paralyzing problem in American society.
"I came to the conclusion that we do have a race industry in this country," he said. "We play up the bad and forget the good."
As an example of this, Sleeper criticized certain radical activists who exaggerated problems about race in the aftermath of recent burnings of black churches in the South.
"People wanted it to be 1963 all over again. Racism intact gives a moral clarity," he said.
In response to comments about the current trend of activism on campus concerning sweatshop labor and a living wage, Sleeper warned against opinions not founded on firm beliefs--expressed for sake of expression.
"Activism on campus should be leavened with a lot of study and open discussion--let's hear both sides of the issue," he said.
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