In the 1960's, the Nation of Islam promoted black consciousness to improve life in poor neighborhoods. Today, multi-racial children are challenging traditional categories of black and white. In this hour of To the Best of Our Knowledge, new thoughts on building racial alliances. Are they the best way to organize for political change?

SEGMENT 1

Randall Kennedy teaches at Harvard Law School and is the author of "Race, Crime and the Law." He tells Jim Fleming why he believes racial allegiance and racial pride are counter-productive. Kennedy's article - "My Race Problem -- and Ours" appeared in the May '97 issue of the Atlantic Monthly.

SEGMENT 2:

Claude Andrew Clegg teaches history at North Carolina A&T State University and is the author of "An Original Man: The Life and Times of Elijah Muhammad." He tells Judith Strasser about the founder of the Nation of Islam and why his church is still popular in the Black community. Also, Sonsyrea Tate tells Judith Strasser about her childhood as a Nation of Islam member. Tate's memoir is "Little X: Growing Up in the Nation of Islam."

SEGMENT 3:

Itabari Njeri is the author of "The Last Plantation: Color, Conflict and Identity, Reflections of a New World." She tells Steve Paulson what really prompted the L.A. riots and that Americans have to learn more elastic definitions of race.

Distribution dates:

• week of 05/18/97 - hour 1