Despite the ebbing, flowing, and emotional quality of The Alchemy of Race and Rights, Williams has divided the chapters of the book neatly into four parts and three chapters in each part. Many of the names of the parts and chapters are not clearly attached to the subject matter and the connections are left largely to the reader to discern. For instance, in Chapter 4, "Teleology on the Rocks," Williams hardly explains what she means by teleology and how it figures into her argument.