Ethnicity, Pluralism, and Race: Race Relations Theory in America Before Myrdal

(Hardback)

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A study of the ideas of Robert Park.... It is an interesting and well written piece of work with useful bibliography and notes. It is an excellent introduction to the subject of race relations theory in American sociology in the period from 1920 to 1970. The theoretical and ideological differences in the views of Park and Myrdal on race relations relations are briefly examined at the end of this short study. In a sense, the major purpose of the book is to rehabilitate Park as a race relations theorist who is relevant today. Wacker is quite convincing in his attempt. Lower division undergraduates and up.-Choice
This is a valuable and timely little book, which ought to be of interest and value to any person seriously interested in racial and ethnic relations. Wacker skillfully and percpetively analyzes the contributions of some of our earliest and most influential sociologists in this field, in particular Park and Thomas and secondarily Frazier, Hughes, Miller, Johnson, and Kallen. Wacker indicates the main contributions of these men, their approaches and points of view, as well as criticisms of them, particularly in the 1960s and 1970s, for their allegedly unscientific and, in some instances, assimilationist points of departure. ...Wacker also successfully refutes most of these criticisms and, in so doing, makes quite clear how great is our debt to these early pioneers. ...a useful tool for any course in racial or ethnic relations, as well as for courses in theory, particularly at the upper division or graduate level.-Contemporary Sociology
"A study of the ideas of Robert Park.... It is an interesting and well written piece of work with useful bibliography and notes. It is an excellent introduction to the subject of race relations theory in American sociology in the period from 1920 to 1970. The theoretical and ideological differences in the views of Park and Myrdal on race relations relations are briefly examined at the end of this short study. In a sense, the major purpose of the book is to rehabilitate Park as a race relations theorist who is relevant today. Wacker is quite convincing in his attempt. Lower division undergraduates and up."-Choice
"This is a valuable and timely little book, which ought to be of interest and value to any person seriously interested in racial and ethnic relations. Wacker skillfully and percpetively analyzes the contributions of some of our earliest and most influential sociologists in this field, in particular Park and Thomas and secondarily Frazier, Hughes, Miller, Johnson, and Kallen. Wacker indicates the main contributions of these men, their approaches and points of view, as well as criticisms of them, particularly in the 1960s and 1970s, for their allegedly unscientific and, in some instances, assimilationist points of departure. ...Wacker also successfully refutes most of these criticisms and, in so doing, makes quite clear how great is our debt to these early pioneers. ...a useful tool for any course in racial or ethnic relations, as well as for courses in theory, particularly at the upper division or graduate level."-Contemporary Sociology

Author Bio

cker /f R. /i Fred