Whether it's the merger of a white church with a black church in the South, the hip-hop dreams of a suburban white teenager, or the struggles of a biracial partnership in a high-tech start-up, race relations continue to permeate American lives. Powerful yet intimate, the stories in this volume present the real voices of America speaking out on the impact of race in their daily lives.

The result of a virtually unprecedented commitment of talent and resources, the New York Times landmark series "How Race Is Lived in America" captured the cultural landscape of the nation in provocative, eye-opening articles following people from all backgrounds and every corner of society.

The stories in the series are enhanced by additional commentary from the writers, photographers, and editors; results and analysis of an extensive Times poll on attitudes about race; and selected reader responses. Together they offer a highly personal yet panoramic view of real-world conflict and aspiration.