Blurring the Color Line - The New Chance for a More Integrated America (Paperback)

Richard Alba argues that the social cleavages that separate Americans into distinct, unequal ethno-racial groups could narrow dramatically in the coming decades. During the mid-twentieth century, the dominant position of the United States in the postwar world economy led to a rapid expansion of education and labor opportunities. As a result of their newfound access to training and jobs, many ethnic and religious outsiders, among them Jews and Italians, finally gained full acceptance as members of the mainstream. Alba proposes that this large-scale assimilation of white ethnics was a result of "non-zero-sum mobility," which he defines as the social ascent of members of disadvantaged groups that can take place without affecting the life chances of those who are already members of the established majority. Alba shows that non-zero-sum mobility could play out positively in the future as the baby-boom generation retires, opening up the higher rungs of the labor market. Because of the changing demography of the country, many fewer whites will be coming of age than will be retiring. Hence, the opportunity exists for members of other groups to move up. However, Alba cautions, this demographic shift will only benefit disadvantaged American minorities if they are provided with access to education and training. In Blurring the Color Line, Alba explores a future in which socially mobile minorities could blur stark boundaries and gain much more control over the social expression of racial differences.

General

Imprint:	Harvard University Press
Country of origin:	United States
Series:	The Nathan I. Huggins Lectures
Release date:	February 2012
First published:	2009
Authors:	Richard Alba
Dimensions:	202 x 129 x 21mm (L x W x T)
Format:	Paperback
Pages:	320
ISBN-13:	978-0-674-06470-6
Categories:	Books > Humanities > History > American history > General Books > Social sciences > Sociology, social studies > Ethnic studies > Black studies Books > Social sciences > Sociology, social studies > Population & demography > General Books > Social sciences > Sociology, social studies > Social issues > Equal opportunities Books > Humanities > History > World history > From 1900 > Postwar, from 1945 Books > Social sciences > Politics & government > Political control & freedoms > Human rights > Civil rights & citizenship Books > History > American history > General Books > History > World history > From 1900 > Postwar, from 1945
LSN:	0-674-06470-4
Barcode:	9780674064706

Is the information for this product incomplete, wrong or inappropriate? Let us know about it.

Does this product have an incorrect or missing image? Send us a new image.

Is this product missing categories? Add more categories.

Review This Product

No reviews yet - be the first to create one!