In Loose Canons, one of America's leading literary and cultural critics, Henry Louise Gates, Jr., offers a broad, illuminating look at the highly contentious issue, of multiculturalism. Gates agrees that our world is deeply divided by nationalism, racism, and sexism, and argues that the only way to transcend these divisions - to forge a civic culture that respects both differences and similarities - is through education that respects both the diversity and commonalities of human culture. His is a plea of cultural and intercultural understanding.