Race, Ethnicity, and American Decline

This book explores how race prejudice has distorted American progress over the past four centuries and how to address injustice and restore the American dream. It employs historical analysis of race and ethnicity in American life from colonial to modern times.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 312 pages
Publication date: 31 January 2024
Publisher: Taylor & Francis Ltd

This book delves into the decline of the American dream, particularly for Black Americans, tracing the root cause to race prejudice. Spanning four centuries, this prejudice has hindered American progress and poses a threat to the nation's future. Through a comprehensive historical analysis of race and ethnicity in American life, the chapters explore different understandings of race and ethnicity in American public life and politics. They examine the implications of these understandings for addressing injustice and restoring the American dream. Drawing from a range of disciplines such as political science, history, sociology, and economics, this book serves as a valuable supplement to primary texts in upper-division courses on race and ethnicity, political sociology, public opinion, demography, and public policy.

Introduction:
The American dream, a beacon of hope and opportunity for generations, has faced significant challenges in recent years. While the dream has always been a symbol of equality and prosperity, it has become increasingly out of reach for many Americans, particularly Black Americans. This book explores the deterioration of the promise of the American dream, particularly for Black Americans, and seeks to understand the root causes of this decline.

The Decline of the American Dream:
The American dream has always been rooted in the belief that hard work, determination, and perseverance will lead to success and prosperity. However, for Black Americans, the dream has been plagued by systemic barriers and discrimination that have hindered their ability to achieve the American dream.

Race Prejudice:
The decline of the American dream for Black Americans can be traced back to race prejudice. From the days of slavery to the present, Black Americans have faced discrimination in every aspect of life, including education, employment, housing, and healthcare. This prejudice has created a cycle of poverty and inequality that has made it difficult for Black Americans to climb the social ladder and achieve economic success.

Racial and Ethnic Discrimination:
Race prejudice is not the only form of discrimination that has impacted the American dream for Black Americans. Racial and ethnic discrimination has also played a significant role in perpetuating poverty and inequality. This discrimination has led to limited access to education, employment, and housing opportunities, as well as unequal treatment in the criminal justice system.

The Impact of Discrimination:
The impact of discrimination on the American dream for Black Americans has been profound. Black Americans are less likely to own their homes, have access to quality healthcare, and earn a living wage than their white counterparts. This discrimination has also led to a higher rate of poverty and a lower rate of economic mobility.

Understanding the Roots of Discrimination:
To address the decline of the American dream for Black Americans, it is important to understand the roots of discrimination. This requires a deep examination of the history of race and ethnicity in American life, from colonial times to the present. It is also important to recognize the role that systemic racism and discrimination have played in perpetuating poverty and inequality.

Political and Policy Approaches:
In order to address the decline of the American dream for Black Americans, it is essential to adopt political and policy approaches that promote equality and opportunity. This includes investing in education and training programs that provide Black Americans with the skills and resources they need to succeed in the workforce. It also includes implementing policies that promote diversity and inclusion in the workplace, as well as addressing systemic racism and discrimination in the criminal justice system.

Conclusion:
The decline of the American dream for Black Americans is a complex issue that requires a comprehensive and multifaceted approach. By understanding the roots system of race and ethnicity in American life, recognizing the role of discrimination, and adopting political and policy approaches that promote equality and opportunity, we can work towards addressing the decline of the American dream and creating a more inclusive and prosperous society for all.

Weight: 484g
Dimension: 151 x 229 x 21 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781032582382