From Jim Crow to racial hegemony: Evolving explanations of racial hierarchy

Abstract

In recent years, scholars have worked to understand the persistence of racial inequality in societies characterized by the condemnation of explicit racism, growing diversity, and anti-discrimination policies. Many theorists generally agree about the multiple dimensions of racism and challenge assertions about the incipient colourblindness of the current context. However, they also disagree about the nature of the racial hierarchy in the USA. One approach continues to emphasize a bipolar model, with blacks at the bottom and whites on top, as sufficient to explain diverse patterns of inequality. An alternative formulation sees racialization as contextual, yielding a less stable and more complex ranking system. This article summarizes both positions and concludes that while the bipolar model continues to present useful insights, a more nuanced understanding of racial inequality is achieved when the bipolar approach is replaced by one that comprehends the multiple and even contradictory nature of racial disadvantage and racial inequality in contemporary societies.

Keywords:

• Race
• racial inequality
• black-white model
• globalization
• ethnic
• racial conflict

Acknowledgments

I would like to thank Robert Aponte, Maxine Baca Zinn, Miri Song, Douglas Massey and the anonymous reviewers of Ethnic and Racial Studies for providing valuable suggestions in assisting me to prepare this article.

Notes

STEVEN J. GOLD is Professor of Sociology at Michigan State University.

ADDRESS: Department of Sociology, 316 Berkey Hall, Michigan State University. East Lansing, MI 48824-1111, USA.

Email: <[email protected]>

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Steven J. Gold

STEVEN J. GOLD is Professor of Sociology at Michigan State University. ADDRESS: Department of Sociology, 316 Berkey Hall, Michigan State University. East Lansing, MI 48824-1111, USA. Email: <[email protected]>