Human Relations Commissions: Relieving Racial Tensions in the American City

by Brian R. Calfano, Brian Calfano

During the 1950s, amid increased attention to the problems facing cities--such as racial disparities in housing, education, and economic conditions; tense community-police relations; and underrepresentation of minority groups--local governments developed an interest in "human relations." In the wake of the shocking 1965 Watts uprising, a new authority was the Los Angeles City Human Relations Commission. Today, such commissions exist all over the United States, charged with addressing such tasks as fighting racial discrimination and improving fair housing access.



Brian Calfano and Valerie Martinez-Ebers examine the history and current efforts of human relations commissions in promoting positive intergroup outcomes and enforcing antidiscrimination laws. Drawing on a wide range of theories and methods from political science, social psychology, and public administration, they assess policy approaches, successes, and failures in four cities. The book sheds light on the advantages and disadvantages of different commission types and considers the stresses and expectations placed on commission staff in carrying out difficult agendas in highly charged political contexts. Calfano and Martinez-Ebers suggest that the path to full inclusion is fraught with complications but that human rights commissions provide guidance as to how disparate groups can be brought together to forge a common purpose. The first book to examine these widely occurring yet understudied political bodies, Human Relations Commissions is relevant to a range of urban policy issues of interest to both academics and practitioners.

276 pages, Kindle Edition

Published September 8, 2020

About the author

Brian Calfano is an accomplished author, journalist, professor, and documentary filmmaker whose work centers on twentieth-century political and journalism issues. As an author, his publications reflect deep expertise and a unique perspective shaped by decades of experience in both the media industry and academia.

His multifaceted career also includes serving as the first scholar-in-residence for Latakoo, a company providing video management solutions to major news outlets such as NBC Universal, Nexstar, and Charter Spectrum. He also holds a courtesy appointment at the University of North Texas (UNT) in the Department of Political Science.

In journalism, Brian’s background spans television and radio. He anchored and hosted political programs for KSNT 27 News, covering Kansas politics in major cities such as Topeka, Wichita, and Kansas City. At Spectrum News 1 Ohio, he reported, produced, and developed political and social series, while also serving as a political analyst delivering live studio commentary on breaking news.

Reviews

[Kammy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you to the publisher for a copy of this book via netgalley!

This is more of a case study then it is a typical book. It is very Insightful in underlining the importance of human relations commissions in fostering, repairing and preserving societal barriers created due to an imbalance Between individuals. The case is strong for hrc and Their work, but as this book also touches upon...keeping them running is a hurdle in itself, whether for financial or political reasons. Luckily lots of dedicated hrc keep on fighting the good fight no matter what!