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Divided by Color: Racial Politics and Democratic Ideals

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When news of the O. J. Simpson verdict swept across the United States, a nation stood divided as blacks and whites reacted differently to the decision. Seldom has the racial division that permeates our society come so clearly and prominently into view.

Divided by Color supplies the reasons for this division, asserting that racial resentment continues to exist. Despite a parade of recent books optimistically touting the demise of racial hostility in the United States, the authors marshal a wealth of the most current and comprehensive evidence available to prove their case. Kinder and Sanders reveal that racial resentment remains the most powerful determinant of white opinion on such racially charged issues as welfare, affirmative action, school desegregation, and the plight of the inner city.

But more than a comprehensive description of American views on race, Divided by Color seeks to explain just why black and white Americans believe what they do. Kinder and Sanders analyze the critical factors that shape people's opinion on race-related issues, uncovering the relative importance of self-interest, group identity, ideological principles, as well as racial animosity. Finally, the authors explore how the racial divide has insinuated itself into the presidential election process and examine the role of political elites in framing racial issues for ordinary citizens.

The most accurate and thorough analysis of American attitudes toward race and racial policies undertaken in decades, Divided by Color is destined to become a landmark work on race in America.

399 pages, Paperback

First published July 15, 1996

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Donald R. Kinder

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Profile Image for Chris.
92 reviews
September 22, 2015
I remember Professor Kinder when I was a poli-sci major many years ago at the University of Michigan. I'm glad to see that he's still doing research. This is a very good book and contradicts a lot of the simplistic notions in the popular culture about President Obama and race.
Profile Image for Eugene O'Neal.
35 reviews1 follower
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January 16, 2015
Absolutely great book on how race impact politics, especially in voting.
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