New Directions: African Americans in a Diversifying Nation (National Policy Associaton Report, No. 297) (NPA report)

"New Directions" presents significant and timely data on eight topical areas as well as thought-provoking recommendations for eliminating racial disparities and promoting greater awareness of the complexities arising from America's new diversity. Beginning with a review of current demographic data and an analysis of public attitudes on race and other policy issues, the study addresses income and wealth, education, health, family structure, politics, and criminal justice. It finds that the increasing diversity within the African American population indicates both progress and continuing challenges in each area. The study discusses the potential of several models of intergroup collaboration and the pitfalls of competition as all sectors of society seek to obtain the benefits of America's growing prosperity.

In the tradition of several seminal works in the past century, "New Directions" contributes to a greater understanding of race relations in contemporary America. W.E.B. DuBois's oft-quoted insight in his 1903 work, "The Souls of Black Folk," that the problem of the 20th century would be the “color line” has indeed been proved true. In 1944, Gunnar Myrdal's "An American Dilemma: The Negro Problem and American Democracy" shed powerful light on the extent of racism in American society as it approached mid-century. The National Research Council's 1989 work, "A Common Destiny: Blacks and American Society," documented the dramatic changes for African Americans in the postwar years. The present study delineates America's progress in the final decades of the 20th century. It challenges all citizens, as the 21st century begins amid unparalleled economic, demographic, and social changes, to complete the unfinished business of providing equal opportunity for every American. It is our hope that this publication will contribute to the full achievement of that worthy goal.

James S. Jackson is the Principal Investigator and Editor who worked with an eminent group of scholars to produce the study. Dr. Jackson is Director of the Research Center for Group Dynamics and the Program for Research on Black Americans at the Institute for Social Research at the University of Michigan. He is also the Daniel Katz Distinguished University Professor of Psychology, Professor of Health Behavior and Health Education at the School of Public Health, Director of the Center for Afroamerican and African Studies, and Faculty Associate at the Institute of Gerontology. In 1990, he helped establish and continues to direct the African American Mental Health Research Program funded by the National Institute of Mental Health. His research interests and areas of publication include race and ethnic relations, health and mental health, adult development and aging, attitudes and attitude change, and African American politics. He is coeditor of "Family Life in Black America," "Mental Health in Black America," and "Aging in Black America."