A healthy economy is the best offense against poverty, but economic growth alone cannot close the wide gap between the poverty rates of minorities and whites. This collection examines the socioeconomic status of racial and ethnic minorities, their experiences with poverty, and the effects of federal social policies toward minority groups from 1787 to 1987. Chapter 1, "Introduction: Social Policy and the Minority Experience" (G. D. Sandefur and M. Tienda) comprises the following subdivisions: (1) "U.S. Minorities: A Profile of Diversity"; (2) "Comparative Social and Demographic Characteristics of Minority Families"; and (3) Social Policy and Minorities." Section I, "The Economic Status of Minority Groups," comprises four chapters that discuss homelessness, unemployment, and the special problems of immigrants. Section II, "Family and Intergenerational Processes," comprises two chapters that cover minority educational attainment, female-headed households, and economic and educational problems of the changing family. Section III, "Social Policy," comprises three chapters and an epilogue that review federal policy toward minorities historically, the differential effectiveness of poverty programs in different ethnic groups, and current social policy trends. Most chapters include statistical data on tables and graphs and each chapter includes a list of references. Separate author and subject indexes are included. (FMW)