Iron Cages : Race and Culture in 19th-Century America

by Ronald Takaki

Now in a new edition, Iron Cages provides a unique comparative analysis of white American attitudes toward Asians, blacks, Mexicans, and Native Americans in the 19th century. This pathbreaking work offers a cohesive study of the foundations of race and culture in America. In a new epilogue, Takaki argues that the social health of the United States rests largely on the ability of Americans of all races and cultures to build on an established and positive legacy of cross-cultural cooperation and understanding in the coming 21st century. Observing that by 2050 all Americans will be minorities, Takaki urges us to ask Will America fulfill the promise of equality or will America retreat into its "iron cages" and resist diversity, allowing racial conflicts to divide and possibly even destroy America as a nation? Incisive and provocative, Iron Cages is an essential resource for students of ethnic history and important reading for anyone interested in the history of race
relations in America.

Genres: History, Race, The United States Of America, Nonfiction, Politics, Anti Racist, 19th Century

400 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1979

About the author

Ronald Toshiyuki Takaki was an American academic, historian, ethnographer and author.

Reviews

[Anatalio Ubalde · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book talks about the hardships and racial inequalities that Asians, blacks Latinos, and other nonwhite races had to deal with and work through every day and how they strived forward through adversity and struggle to work harder even though they got less.

[Ashlie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Read for a grad level Ed policy class

[LA · Rating 4 out of 5]

HIST 8980: Hawes: Thematic Studies, Fall 2005

racial domination in the development of 19th century capitalistic America. Study of blacks, Indians, Mexicans and Asians. Cultural hegemony (per Gramsci) --- a certain way of life is dominant. What white men dictated affected everyone else. The minorities were exploited for their cheap labor. The term "iron cages" is a metaphor from Max Weber, meaning complete oppression.

[Izetta Autumn · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love Ron Takaki, not only has he conducted pivotal research, but his own personal story is so compelling. He also truly believes in education and has a passion for it. Here's a book that will teach you things about history that most of us don't learn in school.

[Adam · Rating 5 out of 5]

Have you ever read a book that made water boil and your toenails stand on end? Want to know how fucked up this country's original game plan really was? This book is a fucking mind boggler. It will leave you booking plane tickets to Prague.

[lilia · Rating 5 out of 5]

did not know that that ethnic studies was possible until i read this book and occupied america.

[Elizabeth · Rating 5 out of 5]

Read this book for a class. Realized the obvious.

[Mela · Rating 4 out of 5]

good. prejudice puts up iron bars