Article
At a Loss for Words: Measuring Racial Inequality in America
The Review of Black Political Economy
(2016)
Abstract
Scholars of race tend to measure racial inequality in either absolute or
relative terms. How much Blacks have advanced from their historical antebellum status
is an absolute measure. How the status of Blacks compares with that of Whites is a
relative measure. A more revealing measure might be how much racial equality will be
strategically necessary to avoid a major politico-economic crisis like the ones that
occurred during the civil war and the 1960s. Though it is easier to measure absolute or
relative equality, measures of strategic equality yeild more important information.
Using the Current Population Survey, General Social Survey, Center for Education
Statistics, Multi-City Study of Urban Inequality, and Census Bureau estimates, I find that, strategically, America is actually declining in racial equality, not advancing
Keywords
- Racial Inequality,
- Racial Equity,
- Wage Inequality,
- Strategic Inequality,
- Racism,
- Discrimination
Disciplines
Publication Date
January 11, 2016
DOI
doi.org/10.1007/s12114-015-9229-y
Citation Information
Major Coleman. "At a Loss for Words: Measuring Racial Inequality in America" The Review of Black Political Economy Vol. 43 Iss. 2 (2016) p. 177 - 192 ISSN: 0034-6446 Available at: http://works.bepress.com/major-coleman/4/