|
|
A boundary can be defined as “something that indicates a border or limit” . Racial boundaries are widely used in the United States to keep certain races from achieving their full potential through political policies, social policies and family wealth. Previously, many argued racial similarity was the cause of boundaries . A recent topic that has become popular to study within this area is boundary maintenance. Boundary maintenance is the continuation the current policies that result in stratification. There are many political and social mechanisms that contribute to boundary maintenance. Studies have shown that people in power have enforced racial boundaries through the various policies they have supported . He defines wealth as the total value of a family’s assets minus their total debts. Shapiro states, “Together, wealth accumulation and utilization highlight the ways in which the opportunity structure contributes to massive racial wealth inequality that worsens racial inequality”. He shows how state power, with regard to mass imprisonment, has created a racial boundary for African Americans. Western argues that the prison boom can be attributed to rising crime, the change of American race relations in the 1960’s and the fall of urban labor markets in the 1970’s
|
|
|
