Race, class and urban poverty: A rejoinder

In this article I discuss the major arguments in three of my books that are the focus of attention in this special issue. The Declining Significance of Race (1978, 2nd edn 1980), The Truly Disadvantaged (1987), and When Work Disappears (1996). This discussion serves as the backdrop for my rejoinder to the points made in the preceding articles, including those on the relative significance of race and class, social isolation, the concept 'ghetto', complexity of inner-city family life, and affirmative action. I conclude this article with some reflections on the plight of poor blacks and social policy in the United States.