SAGE Series on Race and Ethnic Relations – serie

While there are numerous studies of racism and racial inequality at the macro-level of analysis, there has been little work done on the experience of everyday racism for black people. Philomena Essed's brilliant work fills this gap. This landmark volume compares contemporary racism in the United States and the Netherlands through in-depth interview data from more than 2,000 experiences of black women. As an interdisciplinary analysis of gendered social constructions of racism, it breaks new ground. Essed problematizes and reinterprets many of the meanings and everyday practices that the majority of society has come to take for granted. She addresses crucial but largely neglected dimensions of racism: How is racism experienced in everyday situations? How do black women recognize covert expressions of racism? What knowledge of racism do black women have, and how is this knowledge acquired? How do they challenge racism in everyday life? To answer these questions, over two thousand experiences of black women are analyzed within a theoretical framework that integrates the disciplines of macro- and micro-sociology, social psychology, discourse analysis, race relations theory, and women's studies. Samples include only black women with higher education. Many of their experiences of racism involve the "elite" among the dominant group. The book seriously challenges both the notion of Dutch tolerance and the idea that U.S. racism is a problem of the past. With this concept in mind, Understanding Everyday Racism is urgent reading. Essed's volume represents a landmark in the study of race and ethnicity and will interest researchers, lecturers, students, and professionals of discourse analysis, policy and women's studies, sociology, psychology, management, psychotherapy, and qualitative methodology. "Without getting bogged down in nit-picking about the definition of racism, the author has succeeded in presenting the true face of racism and has investigated the sociology and psychology of racism. A marvellously subtle and skillful report of everyday racism." --Counselling Psychology Quarterly "In this provocative book, Philomena Essed weaves insights from psychology, sociology, discourse analysis, and women's studies into an original and important new theoretical framework. She combines a phenomenological approach of describing the experiences of individuals with a structural account of inequality." --Contemporary Psychology "Racism remains a contested concept in both popular and scholarly discourse. Typically unaware of the extent of institutionalized racism, whites generally deny that racism exists. People of color typically see things differently and interpret the dominant group perspective as insensitive and insincere. Philomena Essed's groundbreaking volume, Understanding Everyday Racism tackles this ambiguity surrounding both popular and scholarly interpretations of racism and sheds considerable light on the difference between dominant and subordinate group views. . . . Essed's volume makes an extremely important and unique contribution to our understanding of contemporary racism." --Contemporary Sociology

Focusing on an overlooked and understudied population, Understanding Older Chicanas examines older Chicanas' lives, status, and public policy needs. Chicana elderly tend to be poor, reflecting the economic position of Chicanos in American society; they also tend to be stereotyped as widows and grandmothers, reflecting the cultural values of Mexican American society. This work shows how Chicana elderly cope with this economic and cultural marginality and how they gain the personal and financial resources they require. Author Elisa Facio also relates how scholars and public policymakers have previously understood Chicana elderly, provides new data on the social meaning of Chicana old age, and points out the implications of that meaning for future policymakers. This perceptive volume is essential reading for those in academic and policy settings who are interested in issues regarding multicultural aging experiences, diversification, life-cycle phases, socialization, and women.

Focusing on an overlooked and understudied population, Understanding Older Chicanas examines older Chicanas' lives, status, and public policy needs. Chicana elderly tend to be poor, reflecting the economic position of Chicanos in American society; they also tend to be stereotyped as widows and grandmothers, reflecting the cultural values of Mexican American society. This work shows how Chicana elderly cope with this economic and cultural marginality and how they gain the personal and financial resources they require. Author Elisa Facio also relates how scholars and public policymakers have previously understood Chicana elderly, provides new data on the social meaning of Chicana old age, and points out the implications of that meaning for future policymakers. This perceptive volume is essential reading for those in academic and policy settings who are interested in issues regarding multicultural aging experiences, diversification, life-cycle phases, socialization, and women.

In the past, research about African American single mothers and their families has been done using conventional paradigms based upon models of the dominant culture. This practice has resulted in the creation of stereotypes and misconceptions about "the black family." In this collection of original work by an interdisciplinary group of scholars, the African American mother-centered family is reevaluated to present a clearer and more accurate picture of its actual structure and function. Using an Afrocentric, feminist perspective, the contributors examine the history, legal dilemmas, media images, and religious values of these families. The roles of children, grandparents, fathers and other men, other support people, and the government are reviewed. Presenting an informed, insiders view of the African American single-mother household, the contributors suggest more effective and sensitive policy approaches and a more useful role for scholars/activists in this field. This is crucial reading for students and scholars of race/ethnicity studies, black studies, child development, gender studies, social work, sociology, psychology, and policy studies. "African American Single Mothers examines the lives of women outside of the usual stereotypes and misconceptions. Original work by scholars evaluate the African American mother-centered family's function and values." --The Bookwatch "This volume reevaluates the research on families headed by African American single mothers and displaces the stereotypes and misconceptions created by previous research. Using an Afrocentric feminist perspective, the authors examine the history, legal dilemmas, media images, and religious values of these families and review the roles of children, grandparents, and the government. With an insider view that calls for the use of more sensitive and effective policy approaches, the book is intended for students and scholars of race studies, black studies, sociology, and social work." --Journal of Social Work Education

The 1980s were not good economic times for Latinos in the United States. The contributors to Latinos in a Changing U.S. Economy examine the cause of this phenomenon and the long-term consequences for the Hispanic population. How much, they wonder, can be attributed to racism, to structural barriers, to the demographics of the Latino population, or to the structure of the new global economy? Is there evidence of a persistent and growing inequality in the socioeconomic position of Latinos? Using both national data and a series of case studies from cities with significant Latino populations such as New York, Los Angeles, San Antonio, Chicago, and Miami, the editors identify the widening gap in income and social status between rich and poor, Anglos and Latinos, men and women, and immigrants and native born. These celebrated scholars also document the importance of including Latino populations in the study of--and policies for--improving urban areas. They suggest policy options that will reverse the growing social inequality. As an overview of the current socioeconomic status of Latinos in the United States, this book will be useful for scholars and students in urban studies, Latino studies, economics and society, stratification, and ethnic relations. "This is the most useful volume available on Latinos in the 1980's. . . . Individual articles are, in fact, so well blended that they could easily have been written by a single author. This collection is highly recommended to the general public, policy makers, students, and academics. Excellent references and footnotes." --Choice "The book makes three major contributions. First, it gives us the historical background. . . . Second, the essays provide the reader with a thorough understanding of the different experiences of various Latino subpopulations. . . . Third, they underscore the critical role of immigration and policies toward immigrants in the restructuring process." --Contemporary Sociology "At last! Latinos in a Changing U.S. Economy offers the most comprehensive appraisal of the challenges faced by the second largest minority in the United States. The collection of lucidly written articles, mostly by Latino scholars, reexamines the past in light of present transformations and pinpoints trends likely to characterize the future. A must for scholars and policy thinkers who would like to enrich their understanding for the highly diverse Latino population." --M. Patricia Fernández Kelly, The Johns Hopkins University "Mexican Americans, Puerto Ricans, Cubans, Dominicans; migrants and immigrants; Los Angeles, New York, Chicago, San Antonio, Miami: these diverse ethnicities, statuses, and urban bases reflect the changing faces of Latinos in the U.S. in the last decade of the 20th century. In this volume, Frank Bonilla, the dean of Latino Studies in the U.S., leads a corp of distinguished, mostly Latino, scholars to explore the effect of recent structural changes on Latinos, soon to be America's largest minority group. Of particular concern to the authors are patterns of persistent and growing poverty and inequality among most Latinos. Familiar issues, such as market forces, racial and ethnic barriers, education and other 'human capital' factors, are re-examined from new angles, with new data, and most importantly, from regional (urban) perspectives, while new issues, such as Latinos and environmental justice, are also introduced. "The new Clinton Administration would do well to study these essays to gain a better understanding of Latinos, as it formulates new policies to address America's most urgent domestic problems, such as the stagnant economy, urban decay, deteriorating race relations, and growing inequality between whites and peoples of color." --Evelyn Hu-DeHart, Professor and Director, Center for Studies of Ethnicity and Race in America, University of Colorado at Boulder "This book is a landmark contribution. It fills a void in our understanding of the place of Latinos in U.S. society. . . . The combining of historical narrative, dynamic conceptualization of measured wage discrimination, studies of Latino communities of place by resident scholars--Los Angeles, Chicago, Miami, San Antonio--provides a breadth and wealth of comparative insight which sets the standard for future researchers." --William K. Tabb, CUNY Graduate Center "College-level collections specializing in Latino issues will want to add this to their collections: It provides a strong social and political overview of Latinos and how they are affected by economic change in this country, considering national data and urban case histories to examine gaps in income and status between whites and Latinos." --The Bookwatch

This is must reading for all serious students of race and ethnic relations. --Choice Americans who study racism and the movements to counteract racism tend to look only at the U.S. situation in their attempts to understand the two phenomena. However, focusing only on the familiar and the national makes it very difficult to see how racism in the United States has been defined by our culture and history--and how it can be changed. For these reasons, Racism and Antiracism in World Perspective, edited by Benjamin P. Bowser, is a unique and valuable resource for students and scholars of race relations. The book's contributors come from a wide range of backgrounds, including anthropology, classics, sociology, political science, communication, and history. They examine racism and antiracism through the historical and cultural lenses of different world settings, including Europe, South America, Africa, North America, and the Caribbean. This progressive approach changes and expands the framework through which we understand the genesis and dynamics of racism and antiracism. Students and practitioners in the fields of race and ethnic relations, sociology, anthropology, cross-cultural studies, political science, policy studies, and comparative studies will find Racism and Antiracism in World Perspective to be an invaluable resource on international racism.

The African American experience in the United States has enriched American history in countless ways. The overriding theme of that experience, however, is one of exploitation and discrimination. How long will this go on? Are African Americans making progress toward complete incorporation into American society? The author of this fascinating volume addresses these issues, examines others' accounts, and offers an alternative approach to explaining the "African American predicament." Stephen Burman's analysis is a sobering one: No simple answer is available to the problem at hand. Some of the other issues the author addresses are the liberal tradition and black progress, race and politics (with special emphasis on Atlanta, Georgia), black nationalism, and Marxism and capitalism and how they relate to black progress. This volume is a must-read for anyone interested in race and ethnic relations. Scholars and students involved in sociology, political science, and urban studies will also appreciate the cogent ideas and lucid analysis contained in The Black Progress Question. "Stephen Burman has written an insightful, judicious, and original critique of competing theories used to interpret the contemporary situation of African Americans." --Choice "Stephen Burman asks: Are African Americans making progress toward political and economic integration into American society? If not, why not? Chapters cover criteria for 'black progress'; the liberal tradition and its failings; the neoconservative arguments'; the influence of Marxism and capitalism;black nationalism; power and plurism; and the continuing tragedy of African Americans in terms of individual, community, national, and global progress." --Journal of Social Work Education

This study of 'elite racism,' which can be subtle but is in fact pervasive and sometimes mundane, is an important contribution to the study of racism and a fine example of comparative race and ethnic studies. Intended for undergraduate and graduate students and scholars, it can also be profitably read by anyone interested in understanding the multiple manifestations of racism in U.S. and European societies. --Choice

Health care constitutes the largest service industry in the United States, yet there are groups and subgroups that have been historically underserved. Race, Gender, and Health explores the influence of race and gender on the health status of a diverse group of nonwhite women in the United States. In addition, the book explores structural and cultural factors that affect women's health issues. Four different groups of women are examined in close detail: African American, American Indian and Alaska Native, Asian/Pacific Islander American, and Latinas. The final chapter considers the potential impact of managed competition to adversely affect the health care services provided to women of color and encourages the development of new paradigms that will improve the delivery of health services not only for women of color but for everyone. Well written and thorough, Race, Gender, and Health is the perfect volume for students and professionals in the following fields: race, health care, gender, nursing and medicine, social work, sociology, anthropology, policy studies, public administration, caregiving, gerontology, and family studies. "Race, Gender, and Health provides cogent new insights into the impact on health status and on access to health services of skin color, gender, social class, and culture in the United States. Racism, sexism, and the current war on the poor remain potent hazards to the health in our nation. This important new book advances provocative and useful recommendations for economic, administrative and political responses to those urgent national problems. It is an invaluable contribution to our national debate, not only on the organization, governance and financing, or health services but also on our national priorities themselves." --Victor W. Sidel, M.D., Albert Einstein College of Medicine "Marcia Bayne-Smith's edited volume Race, Gender, and Health is a welcomed addition to the growing literature connecting gender, race, ethnicity, and class. Bayne-Smith has organized an important series of studies bringing together different disciplinary perspectives on the health issues of women of color. Her excellent introduction provides an historical and contemporary overview which frames the entire study. Race, Gender, and Health is a comprehensive survey that makes a thoughtful contribution to the field. --Manning Marable, Professor of History, Director, African

In many democratic societies, racial inequality persists despite its legal abolition. At the point of entering a democratic era, South Africa is dismantling its legally structured system of inequality. However, the structures of consciousness that gave rise to, and nurtured a system of, white privilege and predominance are tenacious and enduring. In What Racists Believe, Gerhard Schutte examines a wide spectrum of evidence, showing how the in-group consciousness of whites is reproduced and illustrating the processes under which it is maintained. He explains how and why people believe in racial inequality and how they transmit these beliefs to others. The ideology of white solidarity, its perpetuation, and its breakdown is also analyzed. In the author's analysis, he separates different strands of racism: rural from urban, and moderate from militant. A final chapter compares racial attitudes in contemporary America and South America. Students, scholars, and anyone interested in race relations, sociology, anthropology, political science, and African studies will surely appreciate the fascinating study found in What Racists Believe.

In many democratic societies, racial inequality persists despite its legal abolition. At the point of entering a democratic era, South Africa is dismantling its legally structured system of inequality. However, the structures of consciousness that gave rise to, and nurtured a system of, white privilege and predominance are tenacious and enduring. In What Racists Believe, Gerhard Schutte examines a wide spectrum of evidence, showing how the in-group consciousness of whites is reproduced and illustrating the processes under which it is maintained. He explains how and why people believe in racial inequality and how they transmit these beliefs to others. The ideology of white solidarity, its perpetuation, and its breakdown is also analyzed. In the author's analysis, he separates different strands of racism: rural from urban, and moderate from militant. A final chapter compares racial attitudes in contemporary America and South America. Students, scholars, and anyone interested in race relations, sociology, anthropology, political science, and African studies will surely appreciate the fascinating study found in What Racists Believe.

How Young Children Perceive Race examines children's conceptions of race and ethnicity and explores how these factors influence their social relationships. In contrast to most previous studies of children's beliefs and attitudes (done in experimental, contrived, and/or structured settings), this book studies children in their natural environment: the classroom. The author uses the children's own conceptualizations, relying largely on their words and drawings to elicit beliefs and understandings about race and ethnicity. From these data, Robyn M. Holmes divines how kindergartners and other young children understand group boundaries and how they establish an ethnic component for their senses of self and for their concepts of friendship, romance, and procreation. This exciting study will interest scholars, teachers, and students of race/ethnicity, psychology, early childhood education, child development, family studies, sociology, and education. "Focused on the racial beliefs and attitudes of young children, Robyn M. Holmes's research provides data in several areas: how children categorize people on the basis of race and ethnicity; how children view interracial romantic relationships and why race is an issue in such relationships; why race is not a factor in selecting a same-sex friend; how interracial relationships develop; and how children's notions of race affect their knowledge of procreation. Holmes has surely met the goal of this book, to present children's notions of racial and ethnic matters in their own terms. Recommended for social science collections." --Multicultural Review "Robyn M. Holmes writes clearly and describes her research in a manner accessible to the average undergraduate. . . . A good example of anthropological method." --Choice "This is a wonderful ethnographic study of the race relations attitudes and beliefs of young children. . . . In presenting her findings, Robyn M. Holmes reminds us once again that race is a social construction that is learned during young, tender ages and thus, is not just 'an adult' problem or issue." --from the Foreword by John H. Stanfield II

This volume in the Sage Series on Race and Ethnic Relations seeks to explain the phenomenon of racism throughout history by drawing on and integrating the massive literature on racism coming out of the economic, political, and cultural realms. In so doing, author Carter A. Wilson tackles four major goals: first, to help resolve the major debates surrounding racism; second, to demystify racism; third, to provide understanding of how racism has been sustained in various historical eras; and finally, to discuss how racism takes on different forms in various stages of history. This eye-opening volume sheds new light on racism and will be vital to students and professionals in race and ethnic studies, sociology, political science, economics, history, American studies and anthropology.

This volume in the Sage Series on Race and Ethnic Relations seeks to explain the phenomenon of racism throughout history by drawing on and integrating the massive literature on racism coming out of the economic, political, and cultural realms. In so doing, author Carter A. Wilson tackles four major goals: first, to help resolve the major debates surrounding racism; second, to demystify racism; third, to provide understanding of how racism has been sustained in various historical eras; and finally, to discuss how racism takes on different forms in various stages of history. This eye-opening volume sheds new light on racism and will be vital to students and professionals in race and ethnic studies, sociology, political science, economics, history, American studies and anthropology.