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 , ong>Theong> University of Alabama provided ong>theong> backdrop for what would become a lasting symbol in U.S. civil right history. With his stand in ong>theong> schoolhouse door staged at Foster Auditorium on ong>theong> University's campus, Governor George C. Wallace attempted to defy a federal mandate by blocking ong>theong> admission of two black students to ong>theong> University. ong>Theong> nature of racial prejudice and discrimination - its causes, its history, and is impact on society - was ong>theong> focus of a national symposium hosted by ong>Theong> University of Alabama to mark ong>theong> 25th anniversary of ong>theong> stand in ong>theong> schoolhouse door. On this occasion major participants in ong>theong> Wallace stand reconvened to reflect on ong>theong> issues and circumstances surrounding that event. In addition, because of ong>theong> original event's central place in civil rights history, and because of ong>theong> many racial disturbances and difficulties occurring today, scholars from across ong>theong> country were asked to contribute to an extensive examination of racial prejudice and discrimination. This book is based on ong>theong> presentations commissioned for ong>theong> symposium and is divided into three sections: Historical Context, Current Psychosocial-Cultural Assessments of Prejudice and Discrimination, and Strategies for Change. ong>Theong> 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, and Walter G. Stephan. ong>Theong> editors have provided introductions to each of ong>theong> three sections that place ong>theong> chapters in both historical and contemporary contexts."Opening Doors" describes ong>theong> progress that has been made in this country in ong>theong> relationships between and among ong>theong> races since a sneering Governor Wallace withdrew from ong>theong> University campus, telling bystanders to "come back and see us in Alabama." ong>Theong> volume also sheds new light on our understanding of prejudice and discrimination and serves to broaden our current ong>perspectivesong> on ong>theong> traditions, values, attitudes, and behavior patterns that contribute to and reflect ong>theong>se negative components of race relations. At ong>theong> same time, by recounting historical issues associated with prejudice, racism, and discrimination, by offering current analyses of ong>theong>se concepts, and by suggesting strategies for effecting appropriate and meaningful change, "Opening Doors" leads to a clear understanding of ong>theong> nature and extent of progress yet to be realized before we are able to engage in harmonious race relations and enjoy ong>theong> benefits of a more just society.