This book investigates how American schools, from 1900 to 1954, utilized curriculum and pedagogy to shape understandings of race and racial difference. Zoe Burkholder, an associate professor of history, examines the evolution of racial ideologies within educational settings during a pivotal era of American history. The work draws on a range of primary sources, including textbooks, pedagogical manuals, and school records, to trace the ways in which race was taught, contested, and reconfigured in classrooms across the nation. Burkholder argues that the very act of 'coloring' in educational materials and discussions served to both reinforce and, at times, challenge prevailing racial hierarchies.

The book is recognized for its detailed examination of how racial concepts were embedded within the American educational system during the early to mid-20th century. Scholars have noted its contribution to understanding the historical construction of race in public life. The work's focus on the pedagogical tools and curriculum used in schools offers a unique perspective on the broader social and political landscape of the era. It provides insight into the ways educational institutions actively participated in shaping racial attitudes.