| Sumario: | The relationship between race, wealth, and public policy is discussed, and it is argued that the greatest racial disparity in the U.S. today is reflected in wealth ownership. It is argued that, in some analyses, race is an important indicator of life outcomes; in others, it has a counter-intuitive influence when class differences are considered. It is contended that the influence of race is dependent on the outcome that is examined and that, in most instances, skin color or racial identity have less influence in predicting outcomes than socioeconomic variables. It is maintained that the significant racial gap in wealth that results from generations of black-white inequality is not easily remedied because it is mainly due to past dynamics rather than to a lack of “equal opportunity” during the post 1960s. It is concluded that if wealth differences could be repaired through the provision of equal access in housing and credit markets, a policy solution would be evident, but it is more difficult to redress class differences due to parental wealth.
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