Why do racial inequalities persist, and in some cases deepen, in an era that claims to be ‘post-racial’? Despite popular narratives of progress, Black and minority ethnic communities continue to face systemic disadvantage. In this fully revised and updated edition, Kalwant Bhopal uncovers how shifting social, political and economic landscapes in both the UK and US have not only failed to reduce racial discrimination but instead have intensified it. From the backlash against #BlackLivesMatter to the rise of far-right governments denying the relevance of race altogether, this book dismantles the illusion of racial progress. Drawing on timely debates and grounded in empirical evidence, Bhopal reveals how race continues to shape access to power, opportunity and justice. Urgent and unflinching, this is essential reading for anyone interested in exposing the myth of a post-racial society.