Black Youth, Racism and the State
The Politics of Ideology and Policy

This book provides an in-depth analysis of the position of young blacks in British society during the 1980s.

John Solomos (Author)

9780521423816, Cambridge University Press

Paperback, published 17 October 1991

296 pages
23.5 x 15.8 x 2.1 cm, 0.545 kg

'Solomos avoids the pretence and cliché that have afflicted many other works in this genre and presents instead a fine and detailed account of why black youth has been understood as a major social problem.' The Times Higher Education Supplement

In the 1980s the position of young blacks in British society became a key issue in the analysis of race relations. High levels of black youth unemployment and incidences of urban unrest focused attention on this group. This book provides an in-depth analysis of the state's role in this area of race relations. John Solomos examines the policies pursued by the state and related institutions towards young black in Britain from the 1940s to the 1980s. Referring to a wealth of original empirical material, he analyses the ways in which the central and local state have attempted to manage the 'race question' and concentrates in particular on the process through which young blacks came to be seen as a social problem. He also provides an overview of alternative perspectives.

Acknowledgements
Introduction
Part I. Historical And Political Context: 1. The politics of racism and state intervention
Part II. Dimensions Of The Black Youth Question: 2. From assimilation to special needs: ideologies and policies
3. Black youth, crime and the ghetto: common sense images and law and order
Part III. The Politics Of Black Youth Unemployment: 4. The social construction of black youth unemployment and state policies
5. The politics of youth training and equal opportunity: from 'special needs' to the Youth Training Scheme
Part IV. Urban Protest And The 'Enemy Within': 6. The 'social time-bomb' explodes: urban protest, youth unemployment and social policy 7. 'The enemy within': black youth and urban disorder in 1980s Britain
Conclusions
Notes
Bibliography
Index.

Subject Areas: Ethnic studies [JFSL], Social discrimination & inequality [JFFJ]