Slipping through the front door: Relevant social scientific evaluation in the people of color century

This is an essay about the racialized conventional wisdoms and the academic traditions that impede the ability of social scientists to adequately expl ain and evaluate the colorization of the life worlds around them, particula rly in terms of explanations involving power, privilege, and empowerment. I conclude that it is impossible to discuss adequately the more technical is sues of technique and measurement, until we grasp the epistemological and b iographical problematics of social sciences and their uses. Traditional fra meworks, including traditional conceptions of race, hinder our ability to e valuate culturally and socially different worlds and realities, in this cas e, those created and transformed by people of color. It is especially impor tant to find alternatives in a society and globe that are becoming increasi ngly colorized in terms of demographics, power and authority.