Explain William J. Wilson's claim "class has become more important than race" in The

Question

Declining Significance of Race. What did critics of this comment have to say?

What will be an ideal response?

Answer 1

The complexity of the relative influence of race, income, and wealth was apparent in the controversy surrounding the publication of sociologist William J. Wilson's The Declining Significance of Race (1980 [2012]). Pointing to the increasing affluence of African Americans, Wilson concluded, "class has become more important than race in determining black life-chances in the modern industrial period." The policy implications of his conclusion are that programs must be developed to confront class subordination rather than ethnic and racial discrimination. Wilson did not deny the legacy of discrimination reflected in the disproportionate number of African Americans who are poor, less educated, and living in inadequate and overcrowded housing. However, he pointed to "compelling evidence" that young Blacks were competing successfully with young Whites.

Early critics of Wilson commented that focusing attention on this small, educated elite ignores vast numbers of African Americans relegated to the lower class. Wilson himself was not guilty of such an oversimplification and indeed expressed concern over the plight of lower-class, inner-city African Americans as they seemingly fall even further behind. He pointed out that the poor are socially isolated and have shrinking economic opportunities. However, it is easy for many people to conclude superficially that because educated Blacks are entering the middle class, race has ceased to be of concern.