Affirmative Action: Racial Preference in Black and White

by Tim Wise

Affirmative Action examines the larger structure of institutional white privilege in education, and compares the magnitude of white racial preference with the policies typically envisioned when the term "racial preference" is used. In doing so, the book demonstrates that the American system of education is both a reflection of and a contributor to a structure of institutionalized racism and racial preference for the dominant majority.

Genres: Race, Nonfiction, Sociology, Politics, Education

209 pages, Kindle Edition

First published January 27, 2005

About the author

Tim Wise is among the most prominent anti-racist writers and activists in the U.S., and has been called the foremost white anti-racist intellectual in the nation, having spoken in 46 states, and on over 300 college campuses, including Harvard, Stanford, Cal Tech and the Law Schools at Yale, Columbia, Michigan, and Vanderbilt.

From 1999 to 2003, Wise served as an advisor to the Fisk University Race Relations Institute and in the early 90s was Associate Director of the Louisiana Coalition Against Racism and Nazism: the group credited by many with the political defeat of white nationalist, David Duke. His anti-racism efforts have been termed revolutionary by NYU professor and award-winning author, Robin D.G. Kelley, and have also earned praise from such noted race scholars as Michael Eric Dyson, Kimberl Crenshaw, Derrick Bell, Joe Feagin, Lani Guinier, and Richard Delgado.

Tim Wise is now the Director of the newly-formed Association for White Anti-Racist Education (AWARE) in Nashville, Tennessee. He lectures across the country about the need to combat institutional racism, gender bias, and the growing gap between rich and poor in the U.S. Wise has been called a "leftist extremist" by David Duke, "deceptively Aryan-looking" by a member of the Ku Klux Klan, and "the Uncle Tom of the white race," by right-wing author, Dinesh D' Souza. Whatever else can be said about him, his ability to make the right kind of enemies seems unquestioned.

Wise is a featured columnist with the ZNet Commentary program: a web service that disseminates essays by prominent progressive and radical activists and educators. His writings are taught at hundreds of colleges and have appeared in dozens of popular and professional journals. Wise serves as the Race and Ethnicity Editor for LIP Magazine, and articles about his work have appeared in the Los Angeles Times, Washington Post and San Francisco Chronicle.

He has contributed to three recent anthologiesWhen Race Becomes Real: Black and White Writers Confront Their Personal Histories (Chicago Review Press, Jan 2004); Should America Pay (HarperAmistad, 2003), a compilation of essays concerning slavery and its aftermath; and The Power of Non-Violence (Beacon Press, 2002)."

Reviews

[Benjamin · Rating 1 out of 5]

This pro-affirmative-action book was well-reviewed, but I found it pretty much a waste of time. In general, a lot of very well researched statistics are spent in taking cheap shots at straw men.

Wise also throws around phrases like "the right" (meaning, I assume, some faceless amalgamation of all those who disagree with his politics), and uses a lot of ironic quotation marks when he talks about affirmative action opponents who present "facts" and "proofs" in support of their positions. This sarcastic and distracting tone made it difficult to follow what arguments there were in the text.

Clearly Wise is passionate about his subject, but if he hopes to be convincing he needs to focus less on angrily debunking the crazy things some people say and more on building a solid foundation for his own position.

This is a book best enjoyed by people who already believe strongly in the value of affirmative action; for them, it will no doubt be an (ahem) affirmation. For reasonable opponents or those seeking a convincing argument, this book will be a disappointment.

[Erika · Rating 4 out of 5]

I have my own concerns about affirmative action, but I also tend to get nervous when people somewhat rabidly call for its dismantling and complain about the unfairness of it. I lack the ability, however, to verbalize why I am critical of it on the one hand but feel that it's necessary on the other. I am not finished reading Wise's book yet, but what he is doing is giving me the words that I lack for why affirmative action is needed. What very few people (be they critics or supporters of affirmative action) seem to address or acknowledge is the reality of white privilege in the US and how it confers an advantage upon those who happen to be born white. Wise says in one part of the book that people use the terms "disadvantanged" and "under-represented" easily, but don't seem to realize that there is another side to those coins: if some is disadvantaged, then someone else is "advantaged," etc.

I am only about halfway through at this point, but I am finding it to be a very interesting and thought-provoking read.

[Beth · Rating 5 out of 5]

Tim Wise does it again... Here's a very readable academic book with a carefully constructed argument for affirmative action that is simultaneously complex, straightforward in philosophy (guided by a strong sense of social justice), dryly humorous in places, and beautifully written. Wise doesn't have a PhD as far as I know, and he puts most academic writers to shame with his clear, accessible prose and care with citations (he backs up his points with tons of research results). Almost as good as his brilliant memoir-cum-call-to-action, White Like Me>, which is one of the best nonfiction books I've ever read.

[Mike · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is an excellent defense of affirmative action that reframes the debate to center on institutionalized white supremacy. It is against that backdrop that current efforts at racial preference for people of color are analyzed. There are alot of really solid statistical analyses and the author as usual presents in a clear and straightforward manner. I highly recommend this book, but I don't want to just give anything Tim Wise writes a five even though it probably deserves it.

[El Dubbs · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was very well-articulated. I would have given a higher rating were it not for the pages of statistics-- I know it's necessary to back up the arguments with such research, but I find my brain turning off during those parts. I love the clear citations and how the arguments flow point-by-point in a clearly organized fashion. There is much to be said for accesible language and writing styles! (Academics, are you listening?)

[Cherie · Rating 4 out of 5]

B Brilliant look at affirmative action. To all those people who say, "I didn't get into school/this job/whatever b/c someone of color took it from me" - read this so you can debate them. Really shows how even when affirmative action exists, white privilege still pushes white people miles ahead of people of color. Great book.

[Mohamed Sall · Rating 3 out of 5]

Affirmative Action is a controversial topic that polarizes many. This book analyzes Affirmative Action and its impact on America. Personally, I think that AA is needed to maintain a necessary diverse environment so as to foster open-mindedness and tolerance. I used this book in conjunction with many others in order to do my senior exit project. This book had too many statistics!

[Misha · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another must read for European-Americans. Points out a lot of flaws with the arguments against affirmative action. This is by no means a way to get unqualified people into spots based solely on the color of their skin.

[Mijan Wilder · Rating 5 out of 5]

loved it. was one of the selections for my Whiteness, Power and Privilege course. well thought out, easy read, and i love that a white man takes on the topic of institutionalized oppression

[Expose Austin Texas Duty To Care For Others · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another excellent book that discusses discrimination against minorities.