Economics Profession Turns Attention to its ‘Race Problem’

Economics professor Dania Francis researches topics such as racial and socio-economic disparities and student achievement gaps. But she recalls a moment during her graduate studies when a professor discouraged her from pursuing those interests.

“Don’t be the black person that studies black issues,” Ms. Francis recalled the person saying. “Study something legitimate first, so that people can understand you’re a legitimate scholar and then go on to do [race-related research] once you’ve made a name for yourself.”

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