The Quality of Life for Black Americans Twenty Years after the Civil Rights Revolution

The United States has an extensive statistical system that generates hundreds of indicators of the health and economic status of its population components. Yet, there is no consensus about how different indicators should be weighted and interpreted to judge the absolute and relative progress of black Americans. Neither a “melting pot” nor a “polarization” model adequately describes the conflicting areas of gain, pervasive stagnation, and substantial loss in racial equality of life.

Author(s): Reynolds Farley

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Volume 65, Issue S1 (pages 9–34)
Published in 1987