Race in Britain Today (Informal Open University Mini-Series on Race, Eduction & Society)

This invaluable book offers a brief and accessible summary of knowledge of social divisons by `race' in Britain.

It contains a wealth of information on the experiences and life chances of black people - in education, the labour market, health, welfare, housing and the criminal justice system. It both illuminates general issues of `race' and racism - in so far as they are quantifiable - and provides helpful demographic background on specific minority ethnic groups. It also locates `race' within the context of other divisions in society, notably class and gender.

Drawing upon both official statistics and alternative research, this lucid and up to date survey will inform current debates on the effectiveness of antiracist policies, the extent of racism, migration and Europe. What are the actual patterns of migration to and from Britain? How do Bangladeshi children really perform at school? Is it true that Afro-Caribbeans are more likely to be diagnosed as schizophrenic?

An illuminating introductory essay examines the problems of using official statistics on matters of `race'. It looks into the reasoning behind decisions to collect particular data and the ways in which the statistics are defined, analyzed and interpreted.

`Race' in Britain Today will be an essential resource for all those concerned with racial discrimination in British society, whether as students of sociology, education, social policy or medicine; or as practitioners in the public or commercial sectors responsible for implementing equal opportunities policies.

`The contents are fascinating.... Paul Gordon's introductory article on The Racialisation of Statistics is particularly enlightening. He puts forward cogently the arguments for and against collecting racial statistics.... the body of facts in this book is impressive' - Morning Star `The Second Edition of this book continues to provide a useful range of information and statistics on a variety of aspects of "race" in Britain in the Nineties. It is presented with sensitivity and will be a valuable resource for any student of "race" issues, education or indeed anyone concerned about inequality' - European Journal of Intercultural Studies