ABSTRACT
The United States has witnessed a sea change in race relations during the past century. One hundred years ago the Chinese were barred from entering the United States, and even at mid-century there were disenfranchised black voters and racially segregated schools, movie houses, city buses and workplaces. Worse, most of society condoned these practices. But the laws and practices that blatantly excluded racial groups have not been practiced for over two generations. Moreover, attitudes have changed, so that equal opportunity is what most Americans prefer. But has the United States achieved equal opportunity by race? Or do barriers remain? This book aims to answer these questions by examining racial and ethnic disparities in economic opportunity and achievement in the United States.
