Sociologists also seek to explain the nature of power relationships between and among racial groups and to understand more fully the nature and evolution of belief systems about race--the dimensions of how people use the concept and apply it in different circumstances.
Racial profiling in law enforcement activities, "redlining" of predominantly minority neighborhoods in the home mortgage and insurance industries, differential medical treatment, and tracking in schools, all exemplify social practices that sociologists study and want to continue to study. The 15-page ASA statement on race gives examples of significant research findings that illustrate the persistent role of race in schools, labor markets, neighborhoods, and health care.
ASA also goes on record as opposing the elimination of data collection on race, because sociological studies show that this practice does not eliminate its use in daily life, both informally by individuals and formally within social and economic institutions. In France, information on race is seldom collected officially, but evidence of systematic racial discrimination remains. In Brazil, the nation's then-ruling military junta barred the collection of racial data in the 1970 census. The resulting information void, coupled with government censorship, diminished public discussion of racial issues but did not substantially reduce racial inequalities. Refusing to acknowledge the fact of racial classification, feelings, and actions, and refusing to measure them does not erase their consequences and will not allow research-based approach to the alleviation of race-induced social inequalities. At best, these actions will preserve the status quo and create an information vacuum.
As the United States becomes more diverse, the need for public agencies to continue to collect data on racial categories will
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Contact: Johanna Ebner
pubinfor@asanet.org
202-383-9005 x332
American Sociological Association
19-Aug-2002