Race Matters: What's Race Got To Do With It?

By the Annie E. Casey Foundation

January 1, 2006

Summary

Before automatically concluding that race is an issue in any situation, several steps need to be taken. If racial differences remain after tackling these six steps, the case is strong that race matters. This is part of a comprehensive Race Matters toolkit. For more information visit the Race Matters Institute website.

Key Takeaway

Just because racial diversity exists in a given circumstance doesn’t mean the situation is free of racial inequities.

Advocates need to make a strong data-based case about racial disparities. Otherwise, discussions about race easily “fall off the table,” get diverted into side arguments, or default into ideological camps.

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