Unrealized Integration in Education, Sociology, and Society.

The article summarizes the 2023 presidential address by Prudence L. Carter, focusing on the concept of "unrealized integration" in U.S. society and education, which she argues impedes the development of an inclusive, multiracial democracy. Carter critiques the superficial application of diversity efforts that fail to address deeper imbalances in power and resource distribution, emphasizing the need to balance "distributional equality" (material resources) with "relational equality" (social and cultural dynamics). She outlines four dimensions essential for "realized integration": equitable access to opportunities and power, transformation of cultural and social processes, epistemic pluralism embracing diverse knowledge systems, and the capacity to manage disagreement within and between groups. The address calls for interdisciplinary collaboration and applied sociological research to advance social justice and sustain democratic inclusion amid contemporary political and social challenges.