An overwhelming majority of studies examining the relationship between race and criminality use racial composition as a proxy for cultural context or simply for race effects without actually specifying what this variable may or may not be capturing. This ambiguous approach neglects the dynamic nature of race/class stratification and the more general patterning of opportunity and spatial concentration. Inroads toward a better understanding of race and racial concentration and its relation to violence and to general criminological outcomes can take place with a change in the current conceptual landscape. Much research literature has conceptual inadequacies. An approach oriented to the stratification process broadens the research and policy discourse and focuses on more fundamental societal processes and potential holistic solutions. This approach suggests the need not only for efforts such as increased policing of dangerous areas and mentoring of vulnerable adolescent populations, but also for policy initiatives on economic development and growth. Figures, note, and 123 references (Author abstract modified)