Contempt and Pity: Social Policy and the Image of the Damaged Black Psyche, 1880-1996 by Daryl Michael Scott

by Daryl Michael Scott

In reassessing the image of the damaged black psyche from 1880 to 1996, Scott argues that damage imagery has been the product of both liberals and conservatives, racists and antiracists. While racial conservatives, often playing on white contempt for blacks, have sought to use findings of black pathology to justify exclusionary policies, racial liberals have used damage imagery primarily to promote policies of inclusion and rehabilitation. Scott challenges long-held beliefs about the history of damage imagery, warning the Left of the dangers in their rediscovery of damage imagery in an age of conservative reform.

Genres: Nonfiction, Race, History, Sociology

Paperback

First published May 1, 1997

Reviews

[Courtney · Rating 3 out of 5]

While the argument was interesting, I was bombarded by social scientist names....and bothered by the organization of the book. The intro laid out a clear thesis and then it became a history of social science context over time---which is great---but it became too much (for someone unfamiliar with this specific history). He gets points for going in chronological order most of the time. Still, I'd conclude that this book is not for the casual reader or layperson. This isn't my usual category/time period/topic of interest, so it was hard to get through. Overall, the argument against using damage imagery is solid but the book is just too dense.