This week’s reading was a phenomenal analysis about race and class within the United States. Although, the civil rights movement rose through the mid 1950’s and 1960’s that made “opportunities” available, Professor William Julius Wilson makes a few notes in his controversial book, The Declining Significance of Race in which he highlights his viewpoint of social changes in society, particularly in dense urban areas. Wilson’s main purpose in his work is to identify social dislocation as it pertains to economics, as well as social connectivity and class realms.  

In Wilson’s first chapter he argues that prior to the 1960’s there was a high percentage of black families engaged in a family unit of either two parent household along with a family support system or a divorced or widowed single parent with a family support system. Unfortunately, this was not the scenario post 1960’s this was part of the evidence he provides for social dislocation and it devastating generational effects. In easier terms, social dislocation is the sense of values and purpose that dissipates within a community. Understanding the definition, allows for an understanding of the destruction of family norms, practices and economic stability among black and brown communities who have been faced with new forms of segregation that have been indirectly experienced through structural means of education, employment and residency.  

Unfortunately, the vicious cycle of social dislocation has directly caused feelings of isolation, unrest and anger within communities which has also been a direct correlation with the rise of systemic racism. Systemic racism is presented in many facets of today’s society as it did when Wilson published his book in the late 1970’s. We can see what he describes in his book how it correlates with the response of COVID-19 deaths, testing and aid among black and brown communities. Media presented the government as having provided immediate aid and help readily available and distributed, however, the reality was the exact opposite. Analyzing data from several sources such as The Center for Disease Control and Prevention, illustrates clusters, particularly in high need areas such as The Bronx, areas of Queens, which houses large immigrant populations, Brooklyn, and upper Manhattan. Social dislocation reminds us that those who live in generational poverty that remain in such clustered areas without the ability to take advantage of resources like affirmative action-based opportunities are most affected by catastrophic events.  

Interesting enough, Wilson indirectly touches on gentrification as it relates to social dislocation. He writes “It is true that the presence of stable working- and middle class- families in the ghetto provides mainstream role models that reinforce mainstream values pertaining to employment, education, and family structure. But, in the final analysis, a far more important effect is the institutional stability that these families are able to provide in their neighborhoods because of their greater economic downturn- periods in which joblessness in poor urban areas tend to substantially increase” (Wilson, 1978. Pg. 144). Creating a functional community in which there are available resources, whether through the means of public assistance or participation or establishing community connections to enhance the well bearing of its residents help prosperity.  

On a final note, Wilson expresses his point that is still true today, extended “periods of racial oppression can result in a system of inequality that may persist for indefinite period of time even after racial barriers are removed” (Wilson, 1978, pg. 146), creating for other means of segregation and oppression to continue. Today, in 2021, we see it with schools through their implementation and curriculum models that are greatly affected by family’s choice of residency. It is also visible in employment, with salaries earned at different rates between black and white employees. Lastly, where one lives plays a crucial role in all aspects of life, it is a tale of what schools’ your child will get into, the type of job one is employed by, and access to resources to help overcome the existing adversaries.  

References 

• Wilson, W. J. (1980). The declining significance of race: Blacks and changing American institutions. Chicago: University of Chicago Press.