Critical White Studies: Looking Behind the Mirror

by Richard Delgado (Editor), Jean Stefancic

Condemns accepting whiteness as the norm. This book presents works from sociology, law, history, cultural studies, and literature.

Genres: Race, Anti Racist, Nonfiction, Sociology

704 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1997

Reviews

[Gordon Howard · Rating 2 out of 5]

A whole bunch of mini-articles and excerpts on the same topic - the endemic racism of American society and its unique (not in a good way) obsession with race. The low rating is because many of the articles and excerpts are dense and inconmprehensible, and the only counterpoints presented are straw men. The low rating is NOT because this is an unimportant topic - it is a very important topic, perhaps the MOST important, in our American civilization. An updated version of this book, published in 1997, would be great to have - there have been many, many new stories in the story of race in America. The election of our first African-American President (the fact that he is considered African-American though his mother was not falls under the "one-drop" rule discussed in this book) and the reaction to this election by much of "white" America,provides ample additional material for an update.

[Nat Baldino · Rating 3 out of 5]

While there were some very useful essays in here (specifically Morrison's piece and the brilliant work on becoming a "race traitor") on the whole this collection is very unhelpful. Unfocused, basic, and oftentimes counterproductive to its cause. I would like to see or produce a much more critical "critical whiteness" study.

[Steven · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the best collection of cultural studies on race and gender I have yet to come across. A must read for any budding Sociologist!

[Princess · Rating 4 out of 5]

I did not read all of the essays in this collection, but I found the ones that I did read illuminating/ thought-provoking.