In Welfare Racism, sociologists Neubeck and Cazenave analyze the impact of racism on U.S. welfare policy. For decades, they argue, Americans have been bombarded with racist comments and stereotypes about those who receive welfare, allowing politicians to exploit racial cliches for their own political gains. Even liberal politicians have now joined in playing the "race card" by supporting the ill-conceived welfare reforms of 1996 which abolished Aid to Families with Dependent Children. The authors argue that such recent reforms are anti-welfare not anti-poverty.

In a hard-hitting and eloquently written investigation of historical and current attitudes toward welfare, Welfare Racism shows how racist, attitudes and administrative policies have long undermined public assistance programs. Challenging the current contention that racism is of decreasing importance in our society, Neubeck and Cazenave warn that avoidance of the race issue will lead to unprecedented racial conflict in the 21st century.