Roy L. Brooks
- Published in print:
- 2017
- Published Online:
- January 2018
- ISBN:
- 9780300223309
- eISBN:
- 9780300227611
- Item type:
- book
- Publisher:
- Yale University Press
- DOI:
- 10.12987/yale/9780300223309.001.0001
- Subject:
- Sociology, Race and Ethnicity
Beyond the conventional sources of racial inequality—racism for liberals and a dysfunctional black culture for conservatives—lies a source of racial inequality little discussed or studied in our ...
More
Beyond the conventional sources of racial inequality—racism for liberals and a dysfunctional black culture for conservatives—lies a source of racial inequality little discussed or studied in our society. This book maps out that terrain, using the term “racial subordination” to define racial inequality that is a byproduct of individual or institutional action that consciously forgoes an opportunity to advance racial progress for the sake of pursuing a legitimate, nonracist competing interest. While not racism, this non-nefarious source of racial inequality is not racial innocence. Though the subordinator is not on the same hook as the racist, he or she is still on the hook—a different hook. Moving the debate over racial inequality from discrimination discourse to subordination discourse, this book demonstrates how the Supreme Court engages in “juridical subordination” and how the American mainstream culture, even with its commitment to cultural diversity, commits “cultural subordination” time after time. Racism remains a large problem in our society but eliminating it will not end racial inequality. Racism and racial inequality are not coterminous. Unless we also deal with racial subordination, blacks, or African Americans, will effectively face a racial glass ceiling. Breaking through that ceiling involves confronting complex and uncomfortable questions about what we value most as Americans.Less
Beyond the conventional sources of racial inequality—racism for liberals and a dysfunctional black culture for conservatives—lies a source of racial inequality little discussed or studied in our society. This book maps out that terrain, using the term “racial subordination” to define racial inequality that is a byproduct of individual or institutional action that consciously forgoes an opportunity to advance racial progress for the sake of pursuing a legitimate, nonracist competing interest. While not racism, this non-nefarious source of racial inequality is not racial innocence. Though the subordinator is not on the same hook as the racist, he or she is still on the hook—a different hook. Moving the debate over racial inequality from discrimination discourse to subordination discourse, this book demonstrates how the Supreme Court engages in “juridical subordination” and how the American mainstream culture, even with its commitment to cultural diversity, commits “cultural subordination” time after time. Racism remains a large problem in our society but eliminating it will not end racial inequality. Racism and racial inequality are not coterminous. Unless we also deal with racial subordination, blacks, or African Americans, will effectively face a racial glass ceiling. Breaking through that ceiling involves confronting complex and uncomfortable questions about what we value most as Americans.
Roy L. Brooks
- Published in print:
- 2017
- Published Online:
- January 2018
- ISBN:
- 9780300223309
- eISBN:
- 9780300227611
- Item type:
- chapter
- Publisher:
- Yale University Press
- DOI:
- 10.12987/yale/9780300223309.003.0001
- Subject:
- Sociology, Race and Ethnicity
This chapter introduces three main themes presented in the book. First, racism is not coterminous with racial inequality. The term “racial subordination” is used in a new and more useful way to refer ...
More
This chapter introduces three main themes presented in the book. First, racism is not coterminous with racial inequality. The term “racial subordination” is used in a new and more useful way to refer to a non-nefarious external source of racial inequality. This discussion revolves around an illustration that clearly demonstrates the difference between racism and racial subordination. Second, though motivated by a non-nefarious reason, racial subordination is not racial innocence. Allowing racial subordination to persist effectively creates a racial glass ceiling. For that reason, it is bad social policy. Third, even well-to-do blacks are vulnerable to racial subordination. This means that the race problem is not simply a socioeconomic problem requiring a socioeconomic solution. The race problem in post-civil rights America is, in fact, not one but three interrelated problems (a three-headed hydra)—socioeconomic, socio-legal, and socio-cultural with the latter two manifested mainly as racial subordination. This book focuses on the subordination side of the race problem.Less
This chapter introduces three main themes presented in the book. First, racism is not coterminous with racial inequality. The term “racial subordination” is used in a new and more useful way to refer to a non-nefarious external source of racial inequality. This discussion revolves around an illustration that clearly demonstrates the difference between racism and racial subordination. Second, though motivated by a non-nefarious reason, racial subordination is not racial innocence. Allowing racial subordination to persist effectively creates a racial glass ceiling. For that reason, it is bad social policy. Third, even well-to-do blacks are vulnerable to racial subordination. This means that the race problem is not simply a socioeconomic problem requiring a socioeconomic solution. The race problem in post-civil rights America is, in fact, not one but three interrelated problems (a three-headed hydra)—socioeconomic, socio-legal, and socio-cultural with the latter two manifested mainly as racial subordination. This book focuses on the subordination side of the race problem.
