The Many Costs of Racism

by Joe R. Feagin, Karyn D. McKinney

What is it like to be a black person in America today? The voices of middle class African Americans captured in this book will surprise those who think the era of racial discrimination is past. The Many Costs of Racism is a vivid account of the mental, physical health, and economic effects of everyday racism for Black Americans--and of racism's high costs for all Americans. Even in the last decade, many thousands of discrimination complaints have been brought to U.S. courts and governmental agencies. Many Americans are familiar with overt cases of discrimination in the workplace--such as the nooses hung recently by white employees at some worksites as racially harassing reminders of lynchings. While most whites of good will abhor blatant forms of discrimination, they rarely attend to the millions of subtle and covert cases of discrimination that take place yearly. Few white Americans are aware of the array of economic, stress-related, psychological, physical health, and family costs that are imposed on discrimination's many targets. Drawing on their own interviews and on other research studies, the authors document the substantial damage done to black individuals, families, and communities by the stress of everyday discrimination. The strong voices of African Americans here also tell how active resistance and coping strategies become a way of life. Beyond the toll on individuals and families, the authors assess the costs that society as a whole pays for the age-old structures of racial inequality that persist in workplaces, communities, and other major institutions. That cost is much too high--and the book explains how all Americans can work to reduce it.

256 pages, Paperback

First published December 17, 2002

About the author

Joe R. Feagin is a U.S. sociologist and social theorist who has conducted extensive research on racial and gender issues, especially in regard to the United States. He is currently the Ella C. McFadden and Distinguished Professor at Texas A&M University. Feagin has taught at the University of Massachusetts (Boston), University of California (Riverside), University of Texas (Austin), University of Florida, and Texas A&M University.

Feagin has done much research work on race and ethnic relations and has served as the scholar in residence at the U.S. Commission on Civil Rights. He has written over 60 books, one of which (Ghetto Revolts) was nominated for a Pulitzer Prize. He is the 2006 recipient of a Harvard Alumni Association achievement award and was the 1999-2000 president of the American Sociological Association.