More Than Just Race: Being Black and Poor in the Inner City

Systematic exclusion of predominantly African American neighborhoods officially ended in the mid-20th century, yet Wilson argues in More Than Just Race that these structures remain largely intact. In Chapter 2, Wilson connects the end of annexation in the mid-20th century with the establishment of zoning laws. These discriminatory land-use laws made it difficult for racial minorities to access suburban areas, as zoning laws were used to screen on the basis of race.

In Chapter 3, Wilson cites Patterson’s phrase to describe a learned set of behaviors that are typical in impoverished inner cities, and which impede inhabitants’ integration into wider society. Such norms include emphasis on appearance and fashion, sexual conquests, and partying. Wilson also discusses the “code of the street” in Chapter 1 (18).

Cultural continuity refers to the idea that culture is passed down from one generation to the next. Wilson asserts in the conclusion of More Than Just Race that more empirical research is needed to determine whether sub-Saharan African family culture has any impact on the African American family unit.