Recent national attention to some key sociological research appears to have begun when the Sept. 4 Wall Street Journal published a story ("Racial Discrimination Is Still at Work in U.S.") describing research sociologist Devah Pager's dissertation on race-based job discrimination in America. Pager's findings have now taken off like "wide fire" in the national political arena. And, a mere five days later, during the Sept. 9 debate among the democratic presidential hopefuls, the debate moderator posed a question about the Northwestern University sociologist's research. And, since then, at least one Democratic presidential hopeful has latched on to her research results. Howard Dean has referred to Pager's research in a number of contexts including talk show appearances, speeches, and other public contexts. One recent version of his comments is as follows:

Today in America, you have a better chance of being called back for a job interview if you're white with a criminal record than you do if you're black with a clean record—never having been arrested or convicted. Institutional racism exists in this country not because institutions are run by bigots or racists, but because of our unconscious bias towards hiring people just like ourselves. I am determined we will overcome this. I am also determined that we will not leave anyone behind in this discussion—no matter what their color, no matter where they live.