Broke

“In a crowded field of studies on higher education, Broke distinguishes itself by presenting a truly unique, multifaceted, and critical portrait of the ‘new university’ as a racial project. Hamilton and Nielsen convincingly demonstrate how processes of ‘postsecondary racial neoliberalism’ concentrate underrepresented students of color in the least resourced public universities. In these institutional settings, diversity policies and practices are shaped not by only colorblind ideology, but austerity as well.”–Michael Omi and Howard Winant, coauthors of Racial Formation in the United States “Broke has the makings of a classic for the sociology of higher education, race, and class stratification. Hamilton and Nielsen document the evolution of the ‘new university’ in race- and class-stratified society during what they coin as the ‘postsecondary racial neoliberal’ era. Bolstered by strong empirical analyses and captivating, incisive writing, this book draws the reader in and beckons us to shatter both the realities and ironies of segregated university education as conduits of economic mobility in a wealthy society.”–Prudence L. Carter, author of Stubborn Roots: Race, Culture, and Inequality in U.S. and South African Schools

Laura T. Hamilton is professor of sociology at the University of California, Merced. She is coauthor of Paying for the Party: How College Maintains Inequality and author of Parenting to a Degree: How Family Matters for College and Beyond.

Kelly Nielsen is a postdoctoral scholar at the University of California, Merced.