There is a great wealth of books, both classical and new, that has been written on the issues of race relations in Canada. This list is not an attempt to identify every book dealing with an issue, but to highlight some books which are seen as essential to an understanding of race relations.

The readings were selected according to a number of specific criteria, including their relevancy to the issue, their currency, the credibility of the authors, and, where possible, their Canadian content. The selection process also included consultation with experts, academics and practitioners, who identified their choices of essential readings in their respective fields. We were challenged to achieve the objective of equal representation of both official languages. Although all attempts were made to be inclusive, we were faced with gaps in the availability of writings in certain areas. It is hoped that by identifying these gaps, the necessity of further development in specific research areas will also be exposed.

The perspectives of the authors do not necessarily indicate the views of the Canadian Race Relations Foundation. This undertaking is a work in progress. We wish to thank the numerous individuals and organizations who have contributed to the selection process and welcome both critiques and comments for this present bibliography and recommendations for our future publications.