The Myth of Black Progress

by Alphonso Pinkney

In this important analysis of the status of black Americans since the Civil Rights Act of 1964, Professor Alphonso Pinkey refutes the popular neoconservative stance that race is no longer a major factor in the efforts of black Americans to achieve socioeconomic parity. Instead, Professor Pinkey argues, race continues to be an ever-present factor in American life. He bases his argument on detailed analysis of data that support his discussion of income and unemployment, the black middle class, the growing underclass and educational issues such as open admissions, busing and affirmative action.

208 pages, Hardcover

First published November 30, 1984

Reviews

[CTEP]

During the month of March, I read The Myth of Black Progress by Alphonso Pinkey. The title caught my eye as I was browsing at the library after I had read A Call to Consciousness, a compilation of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s most famous speeches. While reading that work, it occurred to me that maybe not much has changed since the 1960’s for Black American. At my site in North Minneapolis I see racial oppression and discrimination which leads to economic hardship for many people.

The Myth of Black Progress is a basic analysis of the status of black Americans since the Civil Rights Act of 1964 to the mid 1980’s (when the book was published) in which Sociologist Alphonso Pinkey refutes the popular neoconservative stance that race is no longer a major factor in the efforts of black Americans to achieve socioeconomic parity. Instead, Professor Pinkey argues, race continues to be an ever-present factor in American life highlighting specifically education and opportunity. He bases his argument on detailed analysis of data that support his discussion of income and unemployment, the black middle class, the growing underclass and educational issues such as open admissions, busing and affirmative action.

I did agree with much of what Pinkey argued. However, I was hoping for a deeper analysis of the underlying internal effects of the culture. Pinkey concentrated most of the writing on outside factors. Regardless, it was a good read and very informative. It’s a great book for anyone looking for an insight to the current African American situation and why racial equality has not made much progress in the last 4 decades.

[Michael Linton · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a pessimistic book published in 1984. The author cites many statistics to prove his point. But he doesn't go any first than the stat sometimes acknowledges that progress has been made.