The New Politics of Race: From Du Bois to the 21st Century

(Hardback)

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From an initial revisiting of the Du Bois-Washington debate to Derrick Bell's essay on the pitfalls of "doing good," this volume presents fresh contemporary perspectives on the age-old problem of race discrimination. "The problem of the Twentieth Century is the problem of the color-line." Du Bois's prophetic statement, made at the beginning of the century, is as true today at the dawn of the 21st century. Presenting fresh, contemporary perspectives on a centuries-old problem, the contributors to this volume, including top scholars in sociology and political science, show that race-politics remains a part of the new millennium despite past efforts to erase discriminatory practices. From an initial reconsideration of the DuBois-Washington debate to Derrick Bell's essay on the pitfalls of "doing good," the book illustrates that the debate about race remains a firm part of our social fabric, begging for a solution to change old and new feelings about race in the United States. Grappling with enduring issues of race and identifying new racial realities, the volume examines the white backlash to affirmative action, the organizational structure of affirmative action, the impact of social networks on occupational mobility, upward mobility and minority neighborhoods, and inner-city entrepreneurship. America's changing configuration to a multi-ethnic, multi-racial population is considered in a chapter speculating on the impact for African Americans. In conclusion, the book suggests ways to take positive action.

Reviews

[t]he authors in this book succeed in showing that we are far from solving racial issues and that race should remain an important focus.-Journal of American Ethnic History
[T]his is an important volume that makes a real contribution to the scholarship of race in the 21st century. Its twin themes of the continuing significance of race and the addition of multiracialism as a factor in studying race in America are thoroughly and skillfully explored through the issues of housing, employment, occupational mobility, and social networks. Scholars of race in America - whether graduate students, sociologists, historians or political scientists - should find this volume informative and useful.-The Western Journal of Black Studies
"the authors in this book succeed in showing that we are far from solving racial issues and that race should remain an important focus."-Journal of American Ethnic History
"This is an important volume that makes a real contribution to the scholarship of race in the 21st century. Its twin themes of the continuing significance of race and the addition of multiracialism as a factor in studying race in America are thoroughly and skillfully explored through the issues of housing, employment, occupational mobility, and social networks. Scholars of race in America - whether graduate students, sociologists, historians or political scientists - should find this volume informative and useful."-The Western Journal of Black Studies
"[T]his is an important volume that makes a real contribution to the scholarship of race in the 21st century. Its twin themes of the continuing significance of race and the addition of multiracialism as a factor in studying race in America are thoroughly and skillfully explored through the issues of housing, employment, occupational mobility, and social networks. Scholars of race in America - whether graduate students, sociologists, historians or political scientists - should find this volume informative and useful."-The Western Journal of Black Studies
"[t]he authors in this book succeed in showing that we are far from solving racial issues and that race should remain an important focus."-Journal of American Ethnic History

Author Bio

MARLESE DURR is Associate Professor in the Department of Sociology and Anthropology at Wright State University.