Douglas S. Massey Boeken

An in-depth look at the rising American generation entering the Black professional classDespite their diversity, Black Americans have long been studied as a uniformly disadvantaged group. Drawing from a representative sample of over a thousand Black students and in-depth interviews and focus groups with over one hundred more, Young, Gifted and Diverse highlights diversity among the new educated Black elite―those graduating from America’s selective colleges and universities in the early twenty-first century.Differences in childhood experiences shape this generation, including their racial and other social identities and attitudes, and beliefs about and interactions with one another. While those in the new Black elite come from myriad backgrounds and have varied views on American racism, as they progress through college and toward the Black professional class they develop a shared worldview and group consciousness. They graduate with optimism about their own futures, but remain guarded about racial equality more broadly. This internal diversity alongside political consensus among the elite complicates assumptions about both a monolithic Black experience and the future of Black political solidarity.

The book delves into Daniel Patrick Moynihan's controversial 1965 report, which highlighted concerning trends in black employment, poverty, and education, linking them to family instability. While advocating for a jobs program to support black men and strengthen families, the report faced significant backlash for allegedly blaming the black community rather than addressing systemic injustices. It sparked intense debate, being criticized as sexist and racist, particularly within liberal circles, reflecting the complexities of race and social policy in America during that era.

This powerful and disturbing book clearly links persistent poverty among blacks in the United States to the unparalleled degree of deliberate segregation they experience in American cities. American Apartheid shows how the black ghetto was created by whites during the first half of the twentieth century in order to isolate growing urban black populations. It goes on to show that, despite the Fair Housing Act of 1968, segregation is perpetuated today through an interlocking set of individual actions, institutional practices, and governmental policies. In some urban areas the degree of black segregation is so intense and occurs in so many dimensions simultaneously that it amounts to "hypersegregation." The authors demonstrate that this systematic segregation of African Americans leads inexorably to the creation of underclass communities during periods of economic downturn. Under conditions of extreme segregation, any increase in the overall rate of black poverty yields a marked increase in the geographic concentration of indigence and the deterioration of social and economic conditions in black communities. As ghetto residents adapt to this increasingly harsh environment under a climate of racial isolation, they evolve attitudes, behaviors, and practices that further marginalize their neighborhoods and undermine their chances of success in mainstream American society. This book is a sober challenge to those who argue that race is of declining significance in the United States today.

The book explores the decline of liberalism in the United States since the 1970s, attributing it to arrogance following past successes like the New Deal. Douglas Massey critiques how liberals, in addressing race and class issues, alienated the public by imposing government policies. He contrasts this with the rise of conservative ideologies promoting free markets and limited government. Massey argues for a necessary liberal realignment, emphasizing the need for a coherent ideology that clearly communicates the government's essential role in fostering a fairer and more unified society.

A close look at the aftereffects of the Mount Laurel affordable housing decision Under the New Jersey State Constitution as interpreted by the State Supreme Court in 1975 and 1983, municipalities are required to use their zoning authority to create realistic opportunities for a fair share of affordable housing for low- and moderate-income households. Mount Laurel was the town at the center of the court decisions. As a result, Mount Laurel has become synonymous with the debate over affordable housing policy designed to create economically integrated communities. What was the impact of the Mount Laurel decision on those most affected by it? What does the case tell us about economic inequality? Climbing Mount Laurel undertakes a systematic evaluation of the Ethel Lawrence Homes—a housing development produced as a result of the Mount Laurel decision. Douglas Massey and his colleagues assess the consequences for the surrounding neighborhoods and their inhabitants, the township of Mount Laurel, and the residents of the Ethel Lawrence Homes. Their analysis reveals what social scientists call neighborhood effects—the notion that neighborhoods can shape the life trajectories of their inhabitants. Climbing Mount Laurel proves that the building of affordable housing projects is an efficacious, cost-effective approach to integration and improving the lives of the poor, with reasonable cost and no drawbacks for the community at large.

Rising rates of survey nonresponse have raised concerns about the reliability of surveys as a data-gathering tool across various fields, including social science and consumer research. Despite their prevalence in media and online platforms, many surveys lack representative samples, leading to questionable data that may misinform public perception. This book explores the implications of these trends, emphasizing the need for critical evaluation of survey-based information in media and its impact on understanding societal issues.