Reference Shelf: Racial Tension in a Postracial Age

Many Americans would like to believe that because the United States has now twice elected a black president, we live in a "postracial" society where discrimination and racism do not exist or only do among outlying, insignificant extremists. Yet, there has been much in the news to contest this notion-not only in the form of police brutality in black communities but also in persisting residential segregation and social inequities between different populations. In opposition to claims of a postracial society, then, are cries of pervasive structural racism and the rise of such activist groups as Black Lives Matter. We have also seen a resurgence in debates around affirmative action and reparations for slavery. While race may be a "social construct," it still has very real effects on national and global politics and society. This volume will explore the state of race in the United States today.