The Hidden Cost of Being African American: How Wealth Perpetuates Inequality

Shapiro uses a combination of in-depth interviews with almost 200 families from Los Angeles, Boston, and St. Louis, and national survey data with 10,000 families to show how racial inequality is transmitted across generations. We see how those families with private wealth are able to move up from generation to generation, relocating to safer communities with better schools and passing along the accompanying advantages to their children. At the same time those without significant wealth remain trapped in communities that don't allow them to move up, no matter how hard they work. Shapiro challenges white middle class families to consider how the privileges that wealth brings not only improve their own chances but also hold back people who don't have them. This "wealthfare" is a legacy of inequality that, if unchanged, will project social injustice far into the future.

Showing that over half of black families fall below the asset poverty line at the beginning of the new century, The Hidden Cost of Being African American will challenge all Americans to reconsider what must be done to end racial inequality.

1. The Color of the Safety Net

2. The Cost of Being Black and the Advantage of Being White

3. Inheritance--"That Parent Thing"

Part II: Making Racial Inequality

4. Middle Class in Black and White: How Level is the Playing Field?

5. The Homeownership Crossroad

Part III: Leveraging Assets

6. Where People "Choose" to Live

7. "Getting a Decent Middle Class American Education": Pursuing Advantage in Schools

Conclusion

Appendix I: Tables

Appendix II: Methodology

Notes

Bibliography

Index