The Anatomy of Racial InequalitySpeaking wisely and provocatively about the political economy of race, Glenn Loury has become one of our most prominent black intellectuals--and, because of his challenges to the orthodoxies of both left and right, one of the most controversial. A major statement of a position developed over the past decade, this book both epitomizes and explains Loury's understanding of the depressed conditions of so much of black society today--and the origins, consequences, and implications for the future of these conditions. Using an economist's approach, Loury describes a vicious cycle of tainted social information that has resulted in a self-replicating pattern of racial stereotypes that rationalize and sustain discrimination. His analysis shows how the restrictions placed on black development by stereotypical and stigmatizing racial thinking deny a whole segment of the population the possibility of self-actualization that American society reveres--something that many contend would be undermined by remedies such as affirmative action. On the contrary, this book persuasively argues that the promise of fairness and individual freedom and dignity will remain unfulfilled without some forms of intervention based on race. Brilliant in its account of how racial classifications are created and perpetuated, and how they resonate through the social, psychological, spiritual, and economic life of the nation, this compelling and passionate book gives us a new way of seeing--and, perhaps, seeing beyond--the damning categorization of race in America. |
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Common terms and phrases
action admissions adopt African Americans agents American ANATOMY OF RACIAL APPENDIX argued argument associated Axiom become behavior beliefs bias Black White blindness cause Chapter choice claim classification cognitive concern consequences consider convention course culture discrimination disparity distinct economic Education effects equality evidence example expect experience fact Figure given goal historical hold human idea ideal identity illustrate important individuals institutions interactions issues learning less liberal look markers marks matter meanings mind moral nature objective observer opportunity persons political population possible practice principle problem procedural processes question race race-blind racial groups RACIAL INEQUALITY RACIAL JUSTICE RACIAL STEREOTYPES racial stigma rational reasons reference reflection reject requires reward rules sense situations slavery social meanings society Source specific Statistics structures subjects suggest taken theory thought tion understand United University
Bibliographic information
| Title | The Anatomy of Racial Inequality The W. E. B. Du Bois Lectures |
| Authors | Glenn C. LOURY, Glenn C Loury |
| Publisher | Harvard University Press, 2009 |
| ISBN | 0674040325, 9780674040328 |
| Length | 240 pages |
| Subjects | › › › Current Events / Political Social Science / Discrimination Social Science / Ethnic Studies / American / African American & Black Studies |
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