Purchase The Race Ahead, by Dr. J. Bruce Stewart here!
“Stewart offers an accessible, proactive approach to understanding and addressing racism in order to “create a truly equitable and just society. ”Drawing upon a wealth of data, the book makes a convincing argument for the ways that “flawed systems” (such as the endurance of race-based economic injustice) and “modes of thinking” (such as the model minority myth) contribute to the perpetuation of racial bias in American life.”
-Kirkus Reviews
“The Race Ahead” is an indispensable guide to understanding and addressing racial bias in our society. This book masterfully navigates the complex intersections of race, psychology, history, and systemic inequality, providing profound insights and actionable strategies for promoting racial equity.
From the compelling narratives that humanize the data to the rigorous analysis of historical events and contemporary issues, “Race Ahead” offers a comprehensive examination of racial dynamics. The author’s deep dive into the psychological roots of bias and the neuroscience behind it is particularly illuminating, shedding light on how unconscious prejudices shape our behaviors and perceptions.
-Amazon Review
About The Race Ahead
In Dr. J. Bruce Stewart’s transformative work, “The Race Ahead,” readers are taken on a compelling journey into the depths of racial bias ingrained in American society and the mind itself. This groundbreaking book not only diagnoses the presence and origins of racial biases but also prescribes a sophisticated blueprint for eradicating them, aimed at rewiring how we perceive and interact across racial lines.
Dr. Stewart begins by exploring the psychological foundations of bias, focusing particularly on the amygdala’s role in triggering automatic and subconscious responses associated with fear and othering. He explains how these psychological processes, though once essential to human survival, now perpetuate division and misunderstanding in a diverse society. Using relatable anecdotes and rigorous research, Stewart shows how deep-seated fears and stereotypes shape our interactions, often in ways we are not consciously aware of.
Central to the book is the “Last Mile” problem, a concept Stewart uses to describe the final and most challenging steps in the journey toward racial equity. These steps involve not only acknowledging and understanding biases but actively implementing strategies to dismantle them within ourselves and our institutions. Stewart argues that this last mile is fraught with complexities and challenges, as it requires changing longstanding societal structures and confronting uncomfortable truths.
Part historical review, part psychological exploration, and part sociological study, “The Race Ahead” delves into the origins and perpetuations of racial myths and stereotypes. From the misrepresentations in media and literature that shape public perception to the policies and practices in education and law enforcement that reinforce racial disparities, Stewart leaves no stone unturned.
