In his first published paper, Sandy Darity wrote: "Black people have always been troublesome for social scientists studying the United States." As an economist and professor of public policy, Darity has been perceived as troublesome too because he doesn't just explore the effects of race on economic issue, he tries to measure those effects. His journey has been a somewhat lonely road, but this election year brought some promise—several of those who vied for the Democratic nomination for president adopted Darity's ideas around achieving economic equity and pulled those ideas—and Darity—into the national conversation. Could this finally be his moment?
From the Judges
This article was a sweeping retrospective of a full career of a creative, prominent economist. Its message of persistence, the importance of diverse perspectives, and social justice through academia was fully realized. The subject's personality came through, and the economic jargon and explanations were not overbearing and clearly explained. Difficult issues, such as race and income inequality, were handled well, and potential political topics were discussed with candor. The profile offered very important facts and ideas to share in today's political climate.
