America in Black and White
One Nation, Indivisible
(amazon)Stephan Thernstrom and Abigail Thernstrom (View Bio)
Hardcover: Simon & Schuster, 1997; Paperback: Touchstone, 1999.
America in Black and White is a wide-reaching survey of race relations in America over the past fifty years. Stephan and Abigail Thernstrom present important new information about the positive changes that have been achieved and the measurable improvement in the lives of the majority of African Americans. Supporting their conclusions with statistics on education, earnings, and housing, they argue that the perception of serious racial divisions in this country is outdated—and dangerous.
"A conversation-stopper in the best sense. The guts of this book will cause those on the left and right to stop and think before issuing the grand pronouncement or withering indictment." — David W. Reinhard, The Oregonian
"A very thorough history of contemporary race relations and racial policies in the United States....America in Black and White is a penetrating analysis, as well as a superb history. It should be 'must' reading for anyone concerned about race relations in America." — Thomas Sowell, Forbes
"[America in Black and White] promises to become the standard reference book on contemporary race relations." — Linda Chavez, The Chicago Tribune
"This book is essential reading for anyone wishing to understand the state of race relations." — Henry Louis Gates, Jr., Chairman, Department of Afro-American Studies, Harvard University
"On their chosen issue [the Thernstroms] have served a high hard one, a statistical missile into the other court. It will take more than rhetoric to answer them." — Roger Lane, The Philadelphia Inquirer
