Why do some people get ahead in the workplace, while others, equally qualified, fall behind? Rochelle Parks-Yancy uses the experience of African American workers across the US to reveal how the forces of inequality and social capital shape long-term occupational success.\\Parks-Yancy's mixed-methods approach probes the ways that people find jobs, lose jobs, and get promoted, illuminating the subtle nexus of race, social networks, and societal barriers that can make or break a career trajectory. Demonstrating how disadvantages can accumulate over time, she goes beyond affirmative action to outline how individual workers can seize the initiative in remedying labor market inequalities.

Careers and social capital -- Social class, education, and finding work -- Surviving layoffs -- Race, gender, and accumulating career (dis)advantages -- Social program interventions -- Strategies for improving access.