Research using measures of racial exposure has been appearing with increasing frequency in the literature on race relations. A methodological analysis finds the following problems with these measures: (1) they fail to characterize meaningfully the actual composition of sub-areas; (2) a particular exposure value can describe a wide variety of racial distributions. Hence, large changes in residential distributions need not be reflected in changes in exposure values; and (3) the strong correlation between exposure measures and overall racial composition means that changes in racial composition, in the absence of residential redistribution, necessarily produce changes in the exposure measures. Because of these three problems, the sociological concepts of interracial exposure and potential for interaction are poorly served by the current exposure measures. A 20-item list of references is included. Data are presented on seven tables and figures. (Author/BJV)