American political culture and the shifting meaning of race

America in Black and White: Locating Race in the Modern Presidency, 1933-2011

“…People have a natural inclination to draw distinctions between in‐groups and out‐groups; in the political sphere, these distinctions can affect attitudes by generating a sense of threat, stirring resentment, or reinforcing a perceived need to compete over scarce resources (see Domke et al, 2003; Fujioka, 2005; Shah & Thornton, 1994). These concrete political outcomes highlight the importance of public discussions about race—discussions that ultimately “express the meaning of the American community and the expectations held of one another in that community” (Prager, 1987, p. 63).…”

“…Alternatively, a president downplaying race makes it less likely that the topic will circulate in public discourse. Thus, for observers who decry the ''silence'' about race in America (e.g., Prager, 1987), presidential communication might provide one explanation-and remedy. We expect discussion of race to be rare in presidential addresses, except in moments when external events force a response, because politicians typically have little to gain from addressing divisive issues.…”

Minority Marketing: Research Perspectives for the 1990s

“…In fact we do indeed have a racial problem in this country (Prager, 1987) and business must exhibit sensitivity. To specifically target a product to an ethnic group known to demonstrate a significantly greater susceptibility to that product's potential deleterious effects represents a height of denial.…”

Black, white, and read all over: Racial reasoning and the construction of public reaction to the O. J. Simpson criminal trial verdict by theChicago Tribuneand theChicago defender

“…Despite the ideological power of gender and class formations in U.S. society, race has been and continues to be the primary organizing principle of U.S. social relations (Marable, 1992;Omi & Winant, 1986;Prager, 1987;West, 1992). Although social theories of class, gender and ethnic relations all play enormous roles in structuring U.S. social relations, theories about the nature of race and racial difference have historically dominated the way that Americans make sense of the social and cultural differences and stratification that have played a central role in national development during the 20th century (Prager, 1987).…”

“…Although social theories of class, gender and ethnic relations all play enormous roles in structuring U.S. social relations, theories about the nature of race and racial difference have historically dominated the way that Americans make sense of the social and cultural differences and stratification that have played a central role in national development during the 20th century (Prager, 1987).…”