Rising Inequality and the Case for Coalition Politics

Income and wage inequalities in the United States have increased significantly since 1973. This article documents these changes and argues that an organized national multiracial political constituency is needed for the development and implementation of policies that will help reverse the trends of the rising inequality and ease the burdens of ordinary families. However, a vision of American society that highlights racial differences rather than commonalities makes it difficult for Americans to see the need for and appreciate the potential of mutual political support across racial lines. Accordingly, this article explains why the idea of a national multiracial coalition should be seriously considered. It also spells out the theoretical conditions that facilitate the formation of such a coalition. Finally, it discusses a current network of community grassroots organizations—the Industrial Areas Foundation—that demonstrates how obstacles to sustained interracial cooperation can be overcome.