That’s all I’m talking about here on NPR in a discussion of David Brooks’ idyllic moralizing on pot and the harsh reality of petty crimes derailing the life chances of African Americans in this country.
I talk about this concept a great deal in my undergraduate classes. I also have a paper making the rounds on what I call opportunity closure. If you’ve not read it, this 2013 paper by Fourcade and Healy is a one way forward on conceptualizing the organizational linkages that reproduce inequality in our post-structure, post-racial society.
I did enjoy my time in the studio. It took me back to my days hosting a radio show on a small AM station in Greensboro, NC (WKEW 1400). There aren’t any cart machines anymore but I think the principles are the same? No dead air ever and hit buttons until it sounds good. 🙂
Thank you for having me, Here & Now.
Excellent point about the barriers for white-collar positions (e.g., CEO of a company) being lower than the barriers for entry-level and/or blue-collar jobs. Congrats on being featured on NPR; I’m glad someone with common sense is weighing in on this national debate.
You also point out that convictions for low-level drug offenses also mean that people can’t get federal student aid, which raises barriers to education needed to get jobs. Talk about a viscious circle…