The Continuing Significance of Race: A Case Study of the Impact of Welfare Reform

This study examined the experiences of African American and Caucasian welfare recipients in the Wisconsin Works (W-2) Program that uses community-based organizations (CBOs), as opposed to public agencies for its welfare services, to determine if race was declining in significance. It found that race is significant. African Americans' job interviews were shorter than Caucasians. African Americans were required to take pre-employment tests and alcohol and other drug tests more often than Caucasians. Blacks were less likely to be encouraged to go to college than whites, despite higher education levels. The same racial disparities found with public agencies existed with CBOs.