Because this book is so good, and this chapter is a must read, I think I'll post a selection each day so everyone interested can get hold of these truths. (So long as folks seem interested, hahaha.)
Chapter 2.1:
"In From Here to Equality, we intend to convince you that
Chapter 2.1:
"In From Here to Equality, we intend to convince you that
2/ "America has not transcended racism. Nor has the passage of the Civil Rights Act resulted in economic equality for African Americans. Nor did the election of a black man as president signify the attainment of racial equality. Moreover, the incidence of poverty, unemployment,
3/ "overincarceration, wealth disparities at all levels of income, and inferior levels of well-being among blacks cannot be explained by defective black behaviors. There is something profoundly wrong with the way we think about how race and racism operate in American society.
4/ "In this chapter, we drill down on three key errors that must be corrected. These errors are embodied in the following three erroneous beliefs: (1) Racism and discrimination no longer exist in the United States; (2) there are no significant economic disparities between
5/ "blacks and whites; and (3) to the extent that there are any residual racial economic disparities they must be due to dysfunctional behavior on the part of blacks.
"We rely heavily on statistical findings, rather than anecdotes, to develop a clear portrait of the operation
"We rely heavily on statistical findings, rather than anecdotes, to develop a clear portrait of the operation
6/ "of race and racism in contemporary America. While there always are individuals—some of whom each of us may recognize, at least from afar—who are exceptions to the general pattern, the character of a society is determined most accurately by the typical or average experience
7/ "of its members.
"Economists with a wide range of ideological perspectives also have embraced racial cultural determinism—the idea that race-linked behaviors and attitudes explain racial inequality in the United States.[6]
"Economists with a wide range of ideological perspectives also have embraced racial cultural determinism—the idea that race-linked behaviors and attitudes explain racial inequality in the United States.[6]
8/ "This dangerous line of thinking alleges the black-white economic gap is due not to an acutely unequal playing field but to blacks’ deficient skills, training, and motivation. Its defenders allege that group-based inequality ultimately can be eliminated if black Americans
9/ "exercise enough willpower and do 'the right thing.'
"According to this view, insofar as black Americans possess the capacity to improve their status by altering their own behavior, the nation can be absolved of responsibility. Ostensibly, once blacks as a group take these
"According to this view, insofar as black Americans possess the capacity to improve their status by altering their own behavior, the nation can be absolved of responsibility. Ostensibly, once blacks as a group take these
10/ "self-correcting actions, all disparities simply will fall away.
"The central problem is, as we demonstrate later in this chapter, positive effort, strong motivation, and high academic achievement never have been sufficient to eliminate disparities in racial economic
"The central problem is, as we demonstrate later in this chapter, positive effort, strong motivation, and high academic achievement never have been sufficient to eliminate disparities in racial economic
11/ "well-being, security, and opportunity. Moreover, cultural determinism ignores predatory acts on the part of whites, like the seizure of black-owned land and destruction of black-owned property. Indeed, in general, it ignores the history of violent acts against blacks that
13/ "continue to the present day.
"It is important to acknowledge that whites control political and economic power in this country. No shift in the power relationship will be possible unless the society as a whole takes action to transform the structural conditions to make
"It is important to acknowledge that whites control political and economic power in this country. No shift in the power relationship will be possible unless the society as a whole takes action to transform the structural conditions to make
14/14 "racial equality a real possibility. Given the existing distribution of financial and real resources, blacks cannot close the racial wealth gap by independent or autonomous action."
Gets into data tomorrow!
Gets into data tomorrow!
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