Everyday Forms of Whiteness: Understanding Race in a 'Post-Racial' World

by Melanie E.L. Bush

The second edition of Melanie Bush's acclaimed Everyday Forms of Whiteness looks at the often-unseen ways racism impacts our lives. The author has interviewed and surveyed hundreds of college students and reveals that even though we talk as though we live in a "post-racial" world after the election of Barack Obama, racism is still very much a factor in everyday life. The second edition incorporates new data and interviews to show how the everyday thinking of ordinary people contributes to the perpetuation of systemic racialized inequality. The book introduces key terms for the study for race and ethnicity, reveals the mechanisms that support the racial hierarchy in U.S. society, then outlines ways we can challenge long-standing patterns of racial inequality.

- Combines a powerful theoretical framework with compelling case studies and "on the ground" details

- Uses the context of higher education to analyze the role that race plays in everyday discourse, perceptions, and experiences

- Demonstrates the relationship between attitudes, beliefs, perceptions, and actions

- Historically contextualizes the experience of being "white" today

- Examines the idea that we live in a "post-racial" society

- Explores mechanisms that support the current racial hierarchy, then identifies "cracks in the wall of whiteness," or opportunities to challenge this hierarchy

- New edition features an online discussion guide and expanded analysis through a global lens

- Online supplemental materials include a free discussion guide, as well as sample surveys and discussion group questions

330 pages, Hardcover

First published December 13, 2010

Reviews

[Sean Murphy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved it. Challenging. Dense. Learned a lot.

[Sarah Matz · Rating 5 out of 5]

I enjoyed this book and it really challenged my thoughts on how the white racial identity is formed in the United States. I read this book for a project in my Culture, Race & Privilege course @ McCormick.

It provides a solid background of the history of racism. Anyone who is new to this topic should find this book informative.