Understanding Race and Ethnicity in Rural America¹

Abstract Rural sociologists have an opportunity to make a significant contribution to the race and ethnic relations literature by focusing on the unique social position of minority communities in rural areas. Reservations, colonias, and rural African‐Americans in the South are located in close proximity to the historic institutions established for their exploitation and oppression—slavery, for example. As such, these communities represent a legacy from which much can be learned. The potential impact of this work is readily seen in the context of the past contributions of rural sociologists. This discussion concludes with a review of the work of scholars studying race and ethnicity in rural areas in the early, middle, and later years of the discipline of rural sociology.