"Hate crimes-violence aimed at individuals because they are members of a particular group-were once considered the rare illegal actions of a small but vocal assortment of extremists who thrived on hating minorities. No more. [In this book, the authors] reinterpret this scourge of our generation-hatred based on race, religion, sexual orientation, ethnicity, gender, and even citizenship. In the aftermath of the worst act of terrorism in this country's history-the bombing of the World Trade Center on September 11, 2001-the authors probe the causes and characteristics of such acts of hatred and, most vitally, their consequences for all of us."-- Back cover.

Introduction: Hate crimes reconsidered -- Reign of terror: the root of all evil -- Nasty pictures in our heads: beliefs, stereotypes, and learning to hate -- Hatred is hot: the mixed messages of pop culture -- Resentment: motivations behind the hate -- For the thrill of it: the strong preying on the weak -- Defending against a personal threat: to hate is to protect -- Ridding the world of evil: hate as a delusional mission -- Brotherhood of bigotry: organized hatred across the country -- Hate goes to school: still alive and well on campus -- Minority against minority: pitched battles of hate -- Hatred around the world: keeping foreigners out -- Police response: training, cultural sensitivity, internal monitoring, and taking a hard line against hate crimes -- Public policy and the law: how hate crimes are prosecuted and interpreted -- Prevenntion: stopping the crimes and offenders in their tracks -- Community response: fighting hate crimes one neighborhood at a time --Revisiting hate crimes.