Title

Discrimination: The Law vs. Morality

Abstract

Terminology in racial literature is such that various behaviors are confused with one another making for less than rigorous analysis of racial problems. For some writers prejudice is used in a fashion signifying distaste for a particular race; others use the term suggesting the use of racial stereotypes; yet others use the term as a substitute for discrimination. Similar confusion surrounds the term segregation. Writers frequently refer to school segregation, meaning that few blacks in attendance at a predominantly white school but the same writers would never apply the term to an opera performance with few or no blacks in attendance. This paper seeks to give operational definitions to various terms used in the discussion of race in the hope that it will lead to more rigorous analysis and understanding of the issues and perhaps more effective social policies in the matter of race.

Disciplines

Civil Rights and Discrimination

Date of this Version

August 2003