| For Immediate Release
|
Contacts: |
Elizabeth Riley |
| Heather Tamir 212/629-9570x205 htamir@policylink.org |
SEARCHING
FOR THE UNCOMMON COMMON GROUND:
New Dimensions on Race in America
An American
Assembly Book
by
Angela Glover Blackwell, Stewart Kwoh, and Manuel Pastor
"Every day headlines
shout attention to aspects of our discussions of race, e.g., Hispanics overtake
blacks as the largest minority, bilingual education policies under attack,
controversies over affirmative action and its substitutes, racial profiling,
racial injustice, census categories, challenges to the notion of race as
a valid characterization. These and other issues-some derived from
our historical legacy, some a product of our dynamically changing present
situation-call out for deliberations to seek common ground and avoid moving
further away from a united America."
-From the Preface
In the fourth book in the American Assembly's Uniting America series, the issue of race takes center stage. Authors Angela Glover Blackwell, Stewart Kwoh, and Manuel Pastor explore various dimensions related to the pursuit of racial equality and set the stage for a much-needed conversation on race with facts, insight, and analysis. By giving this important and divisive issue the attention it deserves and providing essential background material, Blackwell, Kwoh, and Pastor present their readers with a crucial text, one that views race from a sociological, economic, political and even personal perspective. SEARCHING FOR THE UNCOMMON COMMON GROUND [W. W. Norton & Company; April 2002; $15.95] is an important book on an important American subject.
In order to give structure to their wide-ranging and constantly evolving subject matter, Blackwell, Kwoh, and Pastor frame their discussion along five key themes:
The black-white paradigm versus multiculturalism. Often discussed in terms of black and white, today's racial divide includes growing numbers of Hispanics, Asian Americans, and Native Americans. This book broadens the parameters of the discussion without dismissing the importance of the black-white paradigm.
Diversity versus racial and social justice. Acknowledging that diversity at the top of the social ladder, in the President's cabinet for example, does not necessarily spell equality and justice at the bottom, the authors of this book consider both ends of the spectrum, especially noting those at the bottom who are most often forgotten.
Universal versus particular strategies. The universal approach comes from the view that a rising tide lifts all boats-raising the minimum wage helps Americans of all races. The particular approach comes from a focus on racial disparity. While the authors see the importance of both in striving for equality, they acknowledge that the problems themselves-the particular-must be addressed in order to attain racial equality.
National versus local responsibility. The debate here centers on whether the federal government should play a role in reducing racial inequality or whether the issue is better left to local jurisdictions. This book argues that both are important, necessary, and intricately tied together in the quest for equality.
Structural factors versus individual initiative. Individual success stories aside, the authors point out that it is the broad-based policies that are necessary to improve the lives of all Americans.
SEARCHING FOR THE UNCOMMON COMMON GROUND concludes with a call on leadership, a summoning of all Americans to take up the conversation presented in this book and move forward toward racial equality and justice. Without discussion, there can be no leadership, and without leadership, there can be no progress. With this thought-provoking book, Blackwell, Kwoh, and Pastor have taken the all-important first step and provided the background. Now, it is up to Americans to have the conversation.
ABOUT THE AUTHORS: Angela Glover Blackwell is the Founder and President of PolicyLink, a national nonprofit, research, communications, capacity building, and advocacy organization in Oakland , California . Stewart Kwoh is the President and Executive Director of the Asian Pacific American Legal Center of Southern California in Los Angeles . Manuel Pastor is Professor of Latin American and Latino Studies and Director of the Center for Justice, Tolerance, and Community at the University of California-Santa Cruz.
TITLE: SEARCHING FOR THE
UNCOMMON COMMON GROUND
AUTHORS: Angela Glover Blackwell, Stewart Kwoh, and Manuel Pastor
ISBN: 0-393-32351-X
PUBLICATION DATE: April 2002
PRICE: $15.95