The Changing Face of Black America

Caribbean and African immigrants have been on the rise in the U.S. over the past 20 years, thanks to new immigration laws in the 1980s and 1990s. As a result, unique challenges have emerged for both immigrant groups and U.S.-born African Americans, especially in urban communities. Yoku Shaw-Taylor explains this trend and suggests the potential for a new, multifaceted African-American identity.

Next, Sangyoub Park looks at how Barack Obama’s presidency and changes in how the Census tracks race underline the importance of the social construction of race and ethnicity in the U.S. Changes in our racial landscape, including increases in interracial marriage and childbearing pose intriguing questions about how future generations will respond to the growth of multiracial identities.