David K. Shipler

David K. Shipler, a former New York Times correspondent, is the author of A Country of Strangers: Blacks and Whites in America. In the following viewpoint, he argues that the racist attitudes of whites continue to thwart life opportunities for blacks. Although today’s racism is rarely blatant, antiblack prejudice still influences the opinions and behavior of many whites, leading to subtle instances of discrimination against blacks. Remedies such as affirmative action and diversity training, Shipler maintains, are still needed to address today’s less obvious forms of racial bias.

As you read, consider the following questions:

1. According to the 1990 National Opinion Research survey cited by Shipler, what percentage of the population labeled blacks as “lazier than whites”?
2. What kinds of subtle discrimination can blacks face in seemingly integrated institutions, according to the...