Michael Omi and Howard Winant discuss their foundational work, Racial Formation in the United States. Unlike other traditional race theories, in Omi and Winant's view, racial meanings pervade US society, from defining individual racial identities to the structuring of collective political action. Race as a master category, the rise of colorblindness, and how the Right weaponizes civil rights advancements are all discussed.

Michael Omi is a Professor Emeritus, Asian American and Asian Diaspora Studies at University of California, Berkeley.

Howard Winant is Distinguished Professor of Sociology at the University of California, Santa Barbara