Roy L. Brooks
Rethinking the American Race Problem
$26.95, £15.95 paperback
978-0-520-07878-9
Available Now
"In this innovative blueprint for the transformation of black America, Brooks outlines an intensive, long-term program of African-American self-help combined with government initiatives. . . . His recommendations should stimulate fresh thinking among policymakers and concerned citizens."—Publishers Weekly
"Merits attention for its carefully wrought indictment of national policy, and for its efforts to chart a fresh, politically viable path out of our current racial crisis."—Washington Post Book World
"Brooks's analysis of the differing effects of civil rights legislation within the framework of class structure is illuminating. His explication of the inherent conflicts between 'color blind policies' and 'affirmative action policies'. . . is useful . . . and his reasoning is compelling."—La Doris H. Cordell, California Lawyer
"Brooks asserts that our nation's civil rights laws and policies have actually aggravated the plight of African Americans. . . . A complex, often unorthodox foray across both liberal and conservative lines. . . . The volume merits attention for its carefully wrought indictment of national policy, and for its efforts to chart a fresh, politically viable path out of our current racial crisis."—Washington Post Book World
"Innovative blueprint for the transformation of black America."—Publishers Weekly
"Merits attention for its carefully wrought indictment of national policy, and for its efforts to chart a fresh, politically viable path out of our current racial crisis."—Washington Post Book World
"Brooks's analysis of the differing effects of civil rights legislation within the framework of class structure is illuminating. His explication of the inherent conflicts between 'color blind policies' and 'affirmative action policies'. . . is useful . . . and his reasoning is compelling."—La Doris H. Cordell, California Lawyer
"Brooks asserts that our nation's civil rights laws and policies have actually aggravated the plight of African Americans. . . . A complex, often unorthodox foray across both liberal and conservative lines. . . . The volume merits attention for its carefully wrought indictment of national policy, and for its efforts to chart a fresh, politically viable path out of our current racial crisis."—Washington Post Book World
"Innovative blueprint for the transformation of black America."—Publishers Weekly
"A path-breaking analysis of the advent and consequences of deep class stratification in African American society since the civil rights movement of the 1960s. Characterized by breadth of vision and reflective realism, Rethinking the American Race Problem is a worthy and welcome successor to Gunnar Myrdal's seminal work, The American Dilemma: The Negro Problem and Modern Democracy, published almost half a century ago."—Boris I. Bittker, Yale University
"Insightful, tightly argued, and deeply felt. . . . This brilliant book will affect the thinking of all who read it."—William A. Fletcher, University of California
"Rethinking the American Race Problem challenges the conventional understanding of the problem of race relations in the United States."—Gerrald Torres, University of Minnesota
"Offers a fresh and intellectually provocative perspective on the relationship between race and public policy in today's America."—Martin Kilson, Harvard University
"Insightful, tightly argued, and deeply felt. . . . This brilliant book will affect the thinking of all who read it."—William A. Fletcher, University of California
"Rethinking the American Race Problem challenges the conventional understanding of the problem of race relations in the United States."—Gerrald Torres, University of Minnesota
"Offers a fresh and intellectually provocative perspective on the relationship between race and public policy in today's America."—Martin Kilson, Harvard University
If the conservative view of the American race problem is frightening, the traditional liberal view seems impotent. Analyzing the race problem from neither right nor left, Brooks sheds a new and clarifying light on America's longest running social and moral dilemma.
This incisive book provides a bold new examination of the seemingly intractable racial problems confronting Americans at the end of the twentieth century. In a wide-ranging and probing study, Brooks calls into question the prevailing wisdom about racism, civil rights legislation, and the composition of the Black community, going on to offer a dramatic new approach to the race problem. In Brooks' mind, civil rights laws—laws targeted at racial discrimination—have not only failed to engender racial equality, but have in fact had a negative effect on the standard of living of many Blacks. Brooks defines the American race problem so as to carefully separate racial oppression from (economic) class oppression and explains how civil rights legislation since the 1960s has hurt Black Americans of every class. He offers a strategy for resolving the country's racial inequities, unique in its attentiveness to class division in Black society, that combines governmental remedies and an unprecedented program of Black self-help.
While Brooks argues that the government has the means to resolve the race dilemma, he suggests that it lacks the spirit to do so. Thus, it may be time for Black Americans to come to grips with an unpleasant reality—namely, that they can count on the government only for minimal alleviation, and must take on the larger portion of responsibility for resolving the American race problem themselves.
Certain to arouse controversy, Rethinking the American Race Problem offers new understandings of issues often clouded by misconceptions and backward notions. It is an important book for anyone concerned about the current state of race relations in America.
This incisive book provides a bold new examination of the seemingly intractable racial problems confronting Americans at the end of the twentieth century. In a wide-ranging and probing study, Brooks calls into question the prevailing wisdom about racism, civil rights legislation, and the composition of the Black community, going on to offer a dramatic new approach to the race problem. In Brooks' mind, civil rights laws—laws targeted at racial discrimination—have not only failed to engender racial equality, but have in fact had a negative effect on the standard of living of many Blacks. Brooks defines the American race problem so as to carefully separate racial oppression from (economic) class oppression and explains how civil rights legislation since the 1960s has hurt Black Americans of every class. He offers a strategy for resolving the country's racial inequities, unique in its attentiveness to class division in Black society, that combines governmental remedies and an unprecedented program of Black self-help.
While Brooks argues that the government has the means to resolve the race dilemma, he suggests that it lacks the spirit to do so. Thus, it may be time for Black Americans to come to grips with an unpleasant reality—namely, that they can count on the government only for minimal alleviation, and must take on the larger portion of responsibility for resolving the American race problem themselves.
Certain to arouse controversy, Rethinking the American Race Problem offers new understandings of issues often clouded by misconceptions and backward notions. It is an important book for anyone concerned about the current state of race relations in America.
Acknowledgments
Introduction
Getting Ready to Veer Right
"Ashy": The Social Conservative Agenda
Flouting Civil Liberties: Libraries or Weapons?
Domestic Affairs Veer Right
The Corruption
Going It Alone
Veering from Riyadh to Baghdad
Blindfolding the Public
If This Goes On
Notes
Bibliography
Index
Introduction
Getting Ready to Veer Right
"Ashy": The Social Conservative Agenda
Flouting Civil Liberties: Libraries or Weapons?
Domestic Affairs Veer Right
The Corruption
Going It Alone
Veering from Riyadh to Baghdad
Blindfolding the Public
If This Goes On
Notes
Bibliography
Index
Outstanding Book Award, The Gustavus Myers Center for the Study of Human Rights in the United States