Citation

Myers KA, Williamson P. Race Soc. 2001; 4(1): 3-26.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2001, Elsevier Publishing)

DOI

10.1016/S1090-9524(02)00032-3

PMID

unavailable

Abstract

This project examines a rarely-examined form of racism--racist discourse that occurs in ordinary conversations. We explore the ways that race talk helps to legitimate and reinforce the existing racist structure Feagin (2000): through boundary marking, boundary policing, and boundary maintenance. Previous research on racist discourse primarily uses survey and interview data, as well as texts and speeches (see Bonilla-Silva & Forman, 2000; Doane, 1996; Steeh & Schuman, 1992). All of these forms of data are public talk--ideas knowingly shared with outsiders. Our research looks behind closed doors to see if the "old racism" is dead, or if it has simply become more discreet. We find that ordinary people actively engage in various kinds of "race talk" in private.