The Hidden Cost of Being African American

Shapiro, the author of "Black Wealth/White Wealth," blends personal stories, interviews, empirical data, and analysis to illuminate how family assets produce dramatic consequences in the everyday lives of ordinary citizens.

Thomas M. Shapiro is Pokross Chair of Law and Social Policy, Heller School of Social Policy and Management, Brandeis University. Black Wealth/White Wealth, which he wrote in collaboration with Melvin Oliver, received wide spread acclaim and won several awards, including C. Wright Mills award, the American Sociological Association Distinguished Scholarly Award, and The Myers Center Award for Human Rights.

Part I: Assets
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