Lower Ed: The Troubling Rise of For-Profit Colleges in the New Economy

by Tressie McMillan Cottom

A recent study found that one of the most common traits among “successful” entrepreneurs isn’t personality traits or risk-taking behaviors, but family wealth.

I’m a sociologist. For me, perpetuating the inequalities resulting from intergenerational cumulative disadvantage doesn’t require intent. In fact, racism and sexism work best of all when intent is not a prerequisite.

Atlanta mayor William B. Hartsfield infamously called Atlanta a city too busy to hate in 1960. Hartsfield was making the point that although Atlanta was in the South, it would be too preoccupied with economic prosperity to get up in arms about racial grievances.