Understanding Race and Ethnicity in Contemporary Society: A Reader provides both contemporary and historical perspectives on race and ethnicity with a focus the development of racial and ethnic relations in the United States.
The anthology is organized into five sections. The first provides introductory perspectives that consider what "race" and "ethnicity" mean and demonstrate the racial and ethnic inequalities that exist in the U.S. The second section considers theoretical viewpoints related to race and ethnicity, including readings that consider the American dream of meritocracy and how it fuels inequality, the production of institutional racism, and racist ideology as a social force. The third section provides readers with historical insights on various racial and ethnic groups. The fourth and final section examine contemporary issues, including isolation, implicit racial bias in journalism, the racialization of poverty, stereotypes, race and the criminal justice system, immigration, and more.
The third edition welcomes a new editor, Shikha Bista, to the volume, as well as five new readings: The Red Summer of 1919; Examining Implicit Bias in Journalism; Maintaining Stereotypes; Crime and Criminal Justice; and Affirmative Action. In addition, the reading introductions and discussion questions have been updated.
Understanding Race and Ethnicity in Contemporary Society is intended to supplement standard texts on race and ethnicity. It is well suited to courses that focus on contemporary racial and ethnic relations, and those that explore the history of race and ethnicity.