The Constraint of Race offers a challenging new approach to understanding the evolution of American social policy and the racial politics shaping it. Rather than focusing on the disadvantages suffered by blacks in the American welfare state, Linda Faye Williams looks at the other side of the coin: the advantages enjoyed by whites. Her hope is that rendering the benefits of "white skin privilege" more visible will help undermine their acceptance as "normal" and motivate renewed efforts toward achieving a more just and equitable society. Williams begins her analysis by comparing two...

This book is designed to explore the historical and current level of African-American political participation, to assess the fruits of participation, and to provide recommendations for improving the efficacy of African American political participation in the future. Part One focuses on the historic struggle for securing and expanding African-American voting rights; Part Two focuses on the economic, legal, philosophic, and cultural context of African-American politics; Part Three focuses on prospects for African-American politics in the future--particularly the opportunities to develop...