Race, Work, and Family in the Lives of African Americans

Sadly, efforts to end racial segregation and discrimination have clearly not led to racial equality or a colorblind society. Rather, African Americans have become increasingly class-polarized since the civil rights era as the persistent racialization of American society has perpetuated the wage gap between Blacks and Whites, leading to increased rates of unemployment and underemployment among African Americans. The significant minority of Black families historically headed by single mothers became a statistical majority during the twentieth century, and the tension in the gender relations of Black men and women became a more prominent topic of debate. This compelling and timely collection examines contemporary family and workforce patterns and how they are continuing to shape the quality of life for African Americans across the United States.