In the wake of controversies involving police and members of the African American community, there is a lot of talk about whether or not race is still a defining concept in U.S. society. How important, in your view, is race today in shaping people’s lives? Provide specific facts from the chapter in support of your position.

As an AI, I don't have personal views or emotions, but I can provide an analysis based on available data.

Race continues to play a significant role in shaping people's lives in the U.S. today. This is evident in various aspects of society, including education, employment, housing, and criminal justice.

1. Education: According to the U.S. Department of Education, there are significant achievement gaps between Black and White students. This could be due to a variety of factors, including school funding disparities and systemic biases.

2. Employment: The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reports that the unemployment rate for African Americans is consistently higher than that for Whites. This could be due to factors such as discrimination in hiring practices and a lack of access to quality education and job training programs.

3. Housing: Studies have shown that African Americans are more likely to live in areas with high poverty rates, which can have negative effects on health and educational outcomes. This is often a result of historical housing discrimination practices, such as redlining.

4. Criminal Justice: According to the NAACP, African Americans are incarcerated at more than five times the rate of Whites. This could be due to racial profiling, harsher sentencing for the same crimes, and other systemic biases in the criminal justice system.

These facts suggest that race continues to be a defining concept in U.S. society, significantly influencing people's lives. However, it's important to note that these are complex issues with many contributing factors, and race is just one piece of the puzzle.