[The Myth of Black Progress] (By: Alphonso Pinkney) [published: October, 2008]

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.From the Publisher (on the back cover)'Pinkney, a sociologist, is measured in his analysis, yet grimly moving in his depiction of ghetto youths and their bleak outlook and acutely perceptive in his examination of the racist backlash following the Bakke decision in undercutting affirmative action.' Publishers Weekly'Pinkney ... concludes this well-reasoned and judicious polemic by stating 'the prospects for black equity in the future are not good' ... Pinkney marshals facts that should lead objective students to conclude that although the plight of Afro-Americans is less dismal than it was 20 years ago ... it is far from good ... A 'must' ...' Choice'Professor Alphonso Pinkney has set out to convince us that if we disregard the poverty and social decay of the large minority underclass, we must expect - indeed in the Greek sense of inexorable moral retribution, we shall deserve - a new round of racial rebellion ... If full-scale recession or depression recurs, the myth of racial progress may disintegrate before our eyes. Those who have read Pinkney's book will be morally and intellectually prepared.' The Philadelphia Inquirer

Paperback

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.