Lawrence Bobo

Developed by Lawrence Bobo and his colleagues, laissez-faire racism describes a modern, subtle form of racial prejudice that formally accepts racial equality but continues to blame Black Americans for their economic disadvantages. It contrasts with the older Jim Crow era of overt, state-sponsored racism. This ideology relies on cultural stereotypes rather than biological arguments.

Bobo's scholarship centers on racial attitudes, prejudice, inequality, and public opinion in the United States. He frequently uses extensive survey data to track how racial biases have evolved and manifest in modern political and social life. His work bridges the gap between sociological theory and empirical public opinion research.

He is the W.E.B. Du Bois Professor of the Social Sciences at Harvard University. He also serves as the Chair of the Department of African and African American Studies at the university. He previously taught at Stanford University for over a decade.

Alongside his work on laissez-faire racism, Bobo helped develop the concept of "group position" theory. This theory argues that racial prejudice stems from a sense of group entitlement and a desire to protect dominant group status and resources. He uses this framework to explain why racial attitudes often persist even when overt prejudice declines.