Analysis Of Elizabeth Anderson's Article: The Imperative Of Integration

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In her article “Why Racial Integration Remains an Imperative,” Elizabeth Anderson claims that integration is the only solution to the problems created by segregation, particularly between blacks and whites. Referencing her book The Imperative of Integration, she provides evidence to show why other methods are ineffective in eliminating racial disparities. In his “Comment on Elizabeth Anderson’s The Imperative of Integration,” Ronald Sundstrom critiques this view by suggesting an alternative method to combat segregation. He proposes that local solidarity will eventually lead to the type of inclusion envisioned by Anderson. However, Anderson provides ample support within her article to refute this critique and show the necessity of integration. …show more content…

She argues that segregation has larger implications than just material goods, so programs that merely redistribute these goods do not fully solve the problem. She discusses three additional effects that only integration can mitigate: “ social/cultural capital inequality, racial stigmatization, and anti-democratic effects” (Anderson 2). Anderson points out that members of isolated communities do not receive similar opportunities, “[undermining] disadvantaged groups’ accumulation of the cultural capital needed for advancement” (2). In addition, she argues that geographic isolation reinforces negative stereotypes, functioning to stigmatize minorities or members of out-groups in general. Racial stigmas do not just occur only with extremist thinking. Anderson points out that, “even people who consciously reject anti-black stereotypes have been found to discriminate against blacks” (17). She finally argues that segregation causes a lack of “both communication and accountability” between political elites and isolated minorities (17). Not only are these three effects byproducts of community separation, but they cannot be fixed simply by moving resources around. Anderson contends that integration is the only answer and is enacted through stages of formal desegregation, spatial integration, and formal social integration. These steps are the only way to ensure that isolated minorities will have equality under law, sharing of public institutions such as schools, and cooperation within those institutions leading to better

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