Does The Black Middle Class Exist And Are We Members?: Reflections From A Research Team

Grace Khunou
University of Johannesburg, South Africa

Kris Marsh
University of Maryland, USA

Polite Chauke
University of the Witwatersrand, South Africa

Lesego Plank
University of Johannesburg, South Africa

Leo Igbanoi
National Institute for Legislative and Democratic Studies, Nigeria

Mabone Kgosiemang
University of Johannesburg, South Africa


Product Details
Format:
Paperback
ISBN:
9781838673567
Published:
Publisher:
Emerald Publishing Limited
Dimensions:
192 pages - 129 x 198mm
Series:
Emerald Points
List price £45.99 List price €51.99 List price $61.99

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Does the Black Middle Class Exist And Are We Members makes two contributions into the research of the Black Middle Class. First, it explores how Black South Africans conceptualize middle classness. Second, it demonstrates how this conceptualization informs researchers’ social identity within the Black middle class. 

The book draws on historical social science literature for theoretical grounding and focuses on enriching theoretical perspectives on race and class from the perspective of the interviewee and the interviewer. It contextualizes both subjective and objective definitions of the term ‘middle class’ while highlighting it’s constantly shifting perception. 

Does the Black Middle Class Exist And Are We Members reflects on the experience of the researchers interviews with Black middle class of South Africa. These reflections give a unique approach in understanding how researcher’s subjectivism reflects the experiences of the South African Middle class.

About the authors 
Acknowledgements 
Chapter 1: Who is the black middle class in history and theory?  
Chapter 2: The Black middle class: a conceptual moving target? 
Chapter 3: Those snobbish “clever” Blacks: preconceived notions of the Black middle class 
Chapter 4: Thank you, but I got this: gender dynamics between researcher and Black middle-class respondent
Chapter 5: What do I wear, and do I eat their food? Performing middle classness 
Chapter 6: ConclusionBibliographyIndex
Grace Khunou is a Professor in the Sociology Department at the University of Johannesburg. 
Kris Marsh is an Associate Professor at the University of Maryland.  
Polite Chauke is a PhD candidate and Teaching Assistant at the University of the Witwatersrand.  
Lesego Plank is a PhD candidate at the University of Johannesburg.  
Leo Igbanoi is a Social Sector Analyst at the National Institute for Legislative and Democratic Studies. 
Mabone Kgosiemang is a PhD candidate and Assistant Lecturer at the University of Johannesburg.

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