William Julius Wilson

During the Great Depression, African Americans were faced with problems that were not unlike those experienced by the most disadvantaged groups in society. The Great Depression had a leveling effect, and all groups really experienced hard times: poor whites, poor blacks.

There are many positive things to say about the black community. No question about it.

But the person who scored well on an SAT will not necessarily be the best doctor or the best lawyer or the best businessman. These tests do not measure character, leadership, creativity, perseverance.

Crime, family dissolution, welfare, and low levels of social organization are fundamentally a consequence of the disappearance of work.