William Julius Wilson

William Julius Wilson ( born December 20, 1935 in Derry, Pennsylvania) is an American sociologist, whose research focus is the social inequality and poverty of African-American city dwellers. He was awarded in 2010 for his life's work with the Anisfield - Wolf Book Award.

Wilson, who was a professor at the University of Chicago and Harvard University, honorary doctorates from 41 universities. He officiated in 1990 as 80th president of the American Sociological Association.

Writings (selection )

• The Declining Significance of Race. Blacks and Changing American Institutions (1978 )
• The Truly Disadvantaged. The Inner City, the Underclass, and Public Policy (1987 )
• The Ghetto Underclass. Social Science Perspectives (1989 )
• When Work Disappears. The World of the New Urban Poor (1996 )
• More than Just Race. Being Black and Poor in the Inner City ( 2009).