ABSTRACT
Du Bois famously argues that “the problem of the Twentieth Century is the problem of the colorline” (Du Bois 1986: 359). Du Bois focuses specifi cally on the negative impact that racial boundaries in the United States can have on opportunities and outcomes for African Americans. Although he writes at the turn of the twentieth century, the colorline continues to have an impact on all aspects of life for members of stigmatized groups in the USA and abroad. This chapter will use the case of African Americans in the US post-Civil Rights Era to explore the ways in which racial boundaries can shape life circumstances. First, I briefl y explore the persistence of racial boundaries in the USA. I argue that while African Americans have made progress in the post-Civil Rights Era, racial boundaries have an impact on interactions, opportunities and outcomes. Second, I review some of the most signifi cant barriers facing African Americans in the post-Civil Rights Era, which include neighborhood circumstances, health outcomes, incarceration rates and racial discrimination. Third, I review research on how African Americans interpret and respond to their position in the USA. I focus specifi cally on African Americans’ attitudes about inequality. Throughout this chapter I also emphasize the ways in which class can intersect with race to shape African Americans’ experiences. Finally, I conclude with a brief discussion of research on racial and ethnic boundaries outside of the USA.
