Living with Racism: The Black Middle-Class Experience

by Joe R. Feagin, Melvin P. Sikes

"One step from suicide" was the first response to Joe Feagin and Mel Sikes' question about how it feels to be middle-class and African-American. Despite the prevalent white view that racism is diminishing, this groundbreaking study exposes the depth and relentlessness of the racism that middle-class Black Americans face every day. From the supermarket to the office, the authors show, African Americans are routinely subjected to subtle humiliations and overt hostility across white America.

Based on the sometimes harrowing testimony of more than 200 Black respondents, Living with Racism shows how discrimination targets middle-class African Americans, impeding their economic and social progress, and wearying their spirit. A man is refused service in a restaurant. A woman is harassed while shopping. A little girl is taunted in a public pool by white children. These are everyday incidents encountered by millions of African Americans. But beyond presenting a litany of abuse, the authors argue that racism is deeply imbedded in American institutions and that the cumulative effect of these episodes is profoundly damaging. They argue that discrimination is experienced by their interviewees not as separate incidents, but as a process demanding their constant vigilance and shaping their personal, professional, and psychological lives.

With powerful insight into the daily workings of discrimination, this important study can help all Americans confront the racism of our institutions and our culture.

Genres: Sociology, Race, Nonfiction, Political Science, Social Justice, Social Science

416 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1994

About the author

Joe R. Feagin is a U.S. sociologist and social theorist who has conducted extensive research on racial and gender issues, especially in regard to the United States. He is currently the Ella C. McFadden and Distinguished Professor at Texas A&M University. Feagin has taught at the University of Massachusetts (Boston), University of California (Riverside), University of Texas (Austin), University of Florida, and Texas A&M University.

Feagin has done much research work on race and ethnic relations and has served as the scholar in residence at the U.S. Commission on Civil Rights. He has written over 60 books, one of which (Ghetto Revolts) was nominated for a Pulitzer Prize. He is the 2006 recipient of a Harvard Alumni Association achievement award and was the 1999-2000 president of the American Sociological Association.

Reviews

[Carolyn Appleton · Rating 5 out of 5]

Dr. Melvin P. Sikes was a longtime friend and mentor. We met when I attended graduate school at The University of Texas at Austin. I applied for a part-time job in his office in the early-1980s in the College of Education, where Mel was the multicultural studies expert. He was a Professor Emeritus, and soon would fully retire and close his office, which he had jointly shared with the distinguished professor Dr. S. Thomas Friedman. I was hired to manage daily business and to help him begin closing down his office. We became fast friends, and I accompanied Mel on some of his business calls. He and his wife, Zeta remained close friends of mine for the rest of their lives.

This book is eye-opening and you may find it difficult to read, because you will quickly see how racist behavior hurts good people. The book places the reader squarely in the shoes of those who experience racism first-hand. The debilitating effects are discussed and analyzed.

I was delighted to discover recently that my DNA reveals 1% from Mali in Africa (Ancestry.com). Oddly enough, because I had darker skin growing up, some thought I was Hispanic. I experienced racism on occasion. It always shocked me when that happened and I know how painful it is.

My few incidents pale in comparison to many African Americans today and throughout history, however. "Living With Racism" helps one grasp the effects of such ignorant and hurtful behavior.

I recommend this book highly, and I own an autographed copy by Dr. Sikes (one of the two co-authors). I think this book should be required reading for everyone in America - empathy training.

[Mindy]

“No man can put a chain about the ankle of his fellow man without at last finding the other end fastened about his own neck.” - Frederick Douglas at an 1881 civil rights mass meeting in Washington D.C.

Though this qualitative study was performed in the 1990’s, Feagin and Sykes’ research is far from outdated. We’ve made progress, yes, but it’s not near enough.

The anecdotes shared by each individual provided a raw look into daily life for Black people who, STILL- to this day- remain oppressed in our country.

I think some of this nonfiction got bogged down in statistics, which ended up drowning out some of the very crucial qualitative data (i.e. the anecdotes). I found my mind shutting off whenever too many numbers were thrown at me.

However, when faced with the daily difficulties each respondent described, I felt a very personal responsibility. The ways in which the Black community continues to be oppressed, held down, and persecuted, is real and isn’t going away until we can realize that keeping our fellow human down, does not raise us up. The system can not and will not improve until everybody realizes the part they play in furthering injustice and inequality- and does something about it.

This study was expansive, profound, and one that still holds a ton of validity today. I encourage all to give this a read.

[Tiffany Jackson · Rating 3 out of 5]

"Living with Racism" is primarily concerned with defining and recording the experiences of middle and upper class African-Americans with racism. Though dated, many of the experiences shared by the those surveyed still occur to this day. However, where the book misses the mark is too much emphasis on anecdotal experiences to extrapolate the experiences for the majority of African-Americans. This book could really be improved with the inclusion of statistical data and facts about how African-Americans are discriminated against. Overall, for African-Americans, this book does not say anything new about racism that we didn't already know, and for those who don't believe it exists, the personal stories will not convince them that these individual stories reflect the greater experience of most blacks.

[Lisa · Rating 4 out of 5]

Dr. Feagin was a great teacher and I enjoyed his class!

[Kyla · Rating 4 out of 5]

Pretty good, the testimonies from different black middle class were my fav part of reading.