Metropolis in Black and White

The Metropolis in Black and White highlights a stark fact: America's metropolitan areas are more polarized along racial lines than at any time since the mid-1960s. Though urban areas have become multicultural the editors argue that black-white racial differences will outlast ethnic differences in metropolitan America and that the race issue in most urban areas is perceived as a black-white one. Galster and Hill perceive that the theme of place power and polarization is most powerful when blacks and whites are contrasted. African Americans on average are the poorest most segregated most disadvantaged urban racial (or ethnic) group because they are deeply entangled in the web of interrelationships connecting place power and polarization. Since these interrelationships form a comprehensive set of social structures that oppress African Americans they can be judged to be racist at their core. Race not merely class continues to play a pivotal role in shaping urban African Americans. In clear analyses the contributors examine employment income the underclass education housing health and mortality political participation and racial politics. Intertwined themes of spatial isolation political empowerment and racial disparities-place power and polarization-guide the analyses. Thisis a vital text for courses in urban affairs American studies economics geography sociology political science urban planning and racial and ethnic studies. In clear analyses the contributors examine employment income the underclass education housing health and mortality political participation and racial politics. Intertwined themes of spatial isolation political empowerment and racial disparities-place power and polarization-guide the analyses. This is a vital text for courses in urban affairs American studies economics geography sociology political science urban planning and racial and ethnic studies.