Opening Doors: Perspectives on Race Relations in
ISBN: , SKU: , AUTHOR: Knopke, Harry J. / Rogers, Ronald W. / Norrell, Robert J., PUBLISHER: University Alabama Press, On June , The University of Alabama provided the backdrop for what would become a lasting symbol in U.S. civil right history. With his stong>andong> in the schoolhouse door staged at Foster Auditorium on the University's campus, Governor George C. Wallace attempted to defy a federal mong>andong>ate by blocking the admission of two black students to the University. The nature of racial prejudice ong>andong> discrimination - its causes, its history, ong>andong> is impact on society - was the focus of a national symposium hosted by The University of Alabama to mark the 25th anniversary of the stong>andong> in the schoolhouse door. On this occasion major participants in the Wallace stong>andong> reconvened to reflect on the issues ong>andong> circumstances surrounding that event. In addition, because of the original event's central place in civil rights history, ong>andong> because of the many racial disturbances ong>andong> difficulties occurring today, scholars from across the country were asked to contribute to an extensive examination of racial prejudice ong>andong> discrimination. This book is based on the presentations commissioned for the symposium ong>andong> is divided into three sections: Historical Context, Current Psychosocial-Cultural Assessments of Prejudice ong>andong> Discrimination, ong>andong> Strategies for Change. The contributors include Dan T. Carter, E. Culpepper Clark, John F. Dovidio, Samuel L. Gaertner, Rhoda E. Johnson, James Jones, Leon F. Litwack, Fannie Allen Neal, Mortimer Ostow, Thomas F. Pettigrew, ong>andong> Walter G. Stephan. The editors have provided introductions to each of the three sections that place the chapters in both historical ong>andong> contemporary contexts."Opening Doors" describes the progress that has been made in this country in the relationships between ong>andong> among the races since a sneering Governor Wallace withdrew from the University campus, telling bystong>andong>ers to "come back ong>andong> see us in Alabama." The volume also sheds new light on our understong>andong>ing of prejudice ong>andong> discrimination ong>andong> serves to broaden our current ong>perspectivesong> on the traditions, values, attitudes, ong>andong> behavior patterns that contribute to ong>andong> reflect these negative components of race relations. At the same time, by recounting historical issues associated with prejudice, racism, ong>andong> discrimination, by offering current analyses of these concepts, ong>andong> by suggesting strategies for effecting appropriate ong>andong> meaningful change, "Opening Doors" leads to a clear understong>andong>ing of the nature ong>andong> extent of progress yet to be realized before we are able to engage in harmonious race relations ong>andong> enjoy the benefits of a more just society.