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 lastong>inong>g symbol ong>inong> U.S. civil right history. With his stand ong>inong> the schoolhouse door staged at Foster Auditorium on the University's campus, Governor George C. Wallace attempted to defy a federal mandate by blockong>inong>g the admission of two black students to the University. The nature of racial prejudice and discrimong>inong>ation - its causes, its history, and is impact on society - was the focus of a national symposium hosted by The University of Alabama to mark the 25th anniversary of the stand ong>inong> the schoolhouse door. On this occasion major participants ong>inong> the Wallace stand reconvened to reflect on the issues and circumstances surroundong>inong>g that event. ong>Inong> addition, because of the origong>inong>al event's central place ong>inong> civil rights history, and because of the many racial disturbances and difficulties occurrong>inong>g today, scholars from across the country were asked to contribute to an extensive examong>inong>ation of racial prejudice and discrimong>inong>ation. This book is based on the presentations commissioned for the symposium and is divided ong>inong>to three sections: Historical Context, Current Psychosocial-Cultural Assessments of Prejudice and Discrimong>inong>ation, and Strategies for Change. The contributors ong>inong>clude 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, and Walter G. Stephan. The editors have provided ong>inong>troductions to each of the three sections that place the chapters ong>inong> both historical and contemporary contexts."ong>Openong>inong>gong> Doors" describes the progress that has been made ong>inong> this country ong>inong> the relationships between and among the races song>inong>ce a sneerong>inong>g Governor Wallace withdrew from the University campus, tellong>inong>g bystanders to "come back and see us ong>inong> Alabama." The volume also sheds ong>newong> light on our understandong>inong>g of prejudice and discrimong>inong>ation and serves to broaden our current perspectives on the traditions, values, attitudes, and behavior patterns that contribute to and reflect these negative components of race relations. At the same time, by recountong>inong>g historical issues associated with prejudice, racism, and discrimong>inong>ation, by offerong>inong>g current analyses of these concepts, and by suggestong>inong>g strategies for effectong>inong>g appropriate and meanong>inong>gful change, "ong>Openong>inong>gong> Doors" leads to a clear understandong>inong>g of the nature and extent of progress yet to be realized before we are able to engage ong>inong> harmonious race relations and enjoy the benefits of a more just society.