Race in the 21st Century Ethnographic Approaches

What is the state of race relations in the U.S.? Are we making progress toward ending racial discrimination and prejudice? What, exactly, does "race" mean? In Race in the 21st Century: Ethnographic Approaches, John Hartigan takes an anthropological look at questions such as these by introducing students to the study of race through qualitative approaches. In the first text to take an explicitly ethnographic approach, Hartigan summarizes and explains the current state of social science knowledge on race in the United States. In the process of surveying this research, Hartigan guides readers to think through basic important questions about race in relation to their own circumstances. Unlike many texts, however, this one focuses not on essential differences between racial or ethnic groups, but rather on the commonalities. The author concentrates on the particular contexts where people actively engage and respond to racial meanings and identities. In this way, he encourages readers to think critically about the meaning of race. Ideal for undergraduate courses in race and ethnicity, the anthropology of race, and cultural/human diversity, Race in the 21st Century seamlessly brings together classic and contemporary studies in one accessible volume. The author is also hosting a companion website (www.raceinthe21stcentury.com) that features useful web links, sample assignments, and reviews of ethnographies not covered in the text.

John Hartigan is Associate Professor of Anthropology at University of Texas at Austin and the Director of the Americo Paredes Center for Cultural Studies. He is the author of Odd Tribes: Towards a Cultural Analysis of White People (Duke University Press, 2005) and Racial Situations: Class Predicaments of Whiteness in Detroit (Prince University Press, 1999).