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White Privilege: Essential Readings on the Other Side of Racism
Studies of racism often focus on its devastating effects on the victims of prejudice. But no discussion of race is complete without exploring the other side--the ways in which some people or groups actually benefit, deliberately or inadvertently, from racial bias.
White Privilege, Second Edition, the revision to the ground-breaking anthology from Paula Rothenberg, continues her efforts from the first edition. Two new essays contribute to the discussion of the nature and history of white power. The concluding section again challenges readers to explore ideas for using the power and the concept of white privilege to help combat racism in their own lives.
Brief, inexpensive, and easily integrated with other texts, this interdisciplinary collection of commonsense, non-rhetorical readings lets educators incorporate discussions of whiteness and white privilege into a variety of disciplines, including sociology, English composition, psychology, social work, women's studies, political science, and American studies.
White Privilege, Second Edition, the revision to the ground-breaking anthology from Paula Rothenberg, continues her efforts from the first edition. Two new essays contribute to the discussion of the nature and history of white power. The concluding section again challenges readers to explore ideas for using the power and the concept of white privilege to help combat racism in their own lives.
Brief, inexpensive, and easily integrated with other texts, this interdisciplinary collection of commonsense, non-rhetorical readings lets educators incorporate discussions of whiteness and white privilege into a variety of disciplines, including sociology, English composition, psychology, social work, women's studies, political science, and American studies.
160 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 2002
42 people are currently reading
1814 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 64 reviews
June 15, 2020
HATED it! This book is a crock of dung! Forced to read it for an education class. What a joke. Then had to write an essay on how I have personally benifited from my skin color. This is propaganda. This is what we are filling young minds with? REALLY?!
November 10, 2007
everyone should read this book. everyone. it's a collection of writings (from bell hooks, tim wise, karen brodkin, and more) about the illusion and invisibility of whiteness, racism from a personal and systemic perspective, white privilege and fighting racism for white people. it's well organized into four parts and each essay is short and readable. it's a great book.
April 7, 2023
Going into this book I did not expect it to be that good. It was an assignment for school and when it comes to nonfiction books (as a lover of all things fiction) I can be very picky in my tastes. I was surprised, however, by the brilliance of the collected essays in here and how every single one of them was thought provoking in some way. Any person who has ever thought of racism, or even just had simple questions on the subject should give this book a chance. When it says essential, it means essential.
(*Spoilers*)
There were three things I particularly liked about this piece. One was that it did not divide racism into strict lines of black and white, which is so often seen. Another is that it presented being white to me in a different way, that people are so often focused on people of color that there is a certain invisibility to whiteness. Whiteness becomes the norm and in turn it is never discussed. The last defining factor for me was the issue of color-blindness and by how choosing to go that route can lead to racism that one cannot see.
Overall I believe this book is one that any person can learn from. It has definitly changed my outlook on racism and made me think about how often my 'whiteness' has come to play in my life.
Now just to write a proper review for my school assignment.
(*Spoilers*)
There were three things I particularly liked about this piece. One was that it did not divide racism into strict lines of black and white, which is so often seen. Another is that it presented being white to me in a different way, that people are so often focused on people of color that there is a certain invisibility to whiteness. Whiteness becomes the norm and in turn it is never discussed. The last defining factor for me was the issue of color-blindness and by how choosing to go that route can lead to racism that one cannot see.
Overall I believe this book is one that any person can learn from. It has definitly changed my outlook on racism and made me think about how often my 'whiteness' has come to play in my life.
Now just to write a proper review for my school assignment.
July 14, 2009
I enjoyed thinking about this book more than I enjoyed reading this book. I have tried very hard to eliminate and not perpetuate the racist ideas or perceptions I was raised with. My hope has always been that each generation will do better. After reading this I think I may need to find a way to step-up my anti-racist ways, because, no matter what I do personally, I am still a part of institutional and societal racism. This saddens and disturbs me, but I know it is true.
I liked the latter chapters much more than the middle ones, where wordiness and scholar-speak prevailed.
I liked the latter chapters much more than the middle ones, where wordiness and scholar-speak prevailed.
May 18, 2010
A wonderful primer on all things white privilege. Rothenberg has assembled essential writings by major authors to present a comprehensive, engaging read on race, whiteness, and social justice. Excellent and important.
August 29, 2021
This volume of essays approached a difficult topic with care, introduced to me new ideas, caused me to think in new ways, and offered an extensive bibliography for me to continue learning, something I plan to do.
One sentence I read radically re-framed my understanding of white privilege, so that I could relate to the problem very concretely instead of abstractly. It wasn't even a great sentence. It simply equated whiteness with "property." With this definition as part of "whiteness," I was able to understand how the possession of whiteness has value just like any other kind of capital. It's a kind of wealth, and it's a wealth that I can't be divested from and that others can't ever acquire. Once I accept this--and it's hard not to--it's easy to separate out notions of meritocracy and answers of easy liberalism ("why can't we be friends?") from the undeniable fact that white people are privileged by their whiteness, and act in life as if they are not. Just this simple coupling of whiteness with "property" gave me a way to understand my privileged status without defensiveness or guilt.
There were many other great ideas, some of which were uncomfortable to read but none of which were unwelcome. I learned a great deal and I have a lot to think about now, which is a lot to say about a thin book of essays.
One sentence I read radically re-framed my understanding of white privilege, so that I could relate to the problem very concretely instead of abstractly. It wasn't even a great sentence. It simply equated whiteness with "property." With this definition as part of "whiteness," I was able to understand how the possession of whiteness has value just like any other kind of capital. It's a kind of wealth, and it's a wealth that I can't be divested from and that others can't ever acquire. Once I accept this--and it's hard not to--it's easy to separate out notions of meritocracy and answers of easy liberalism ("why can't we be friends?") from the undeniable fact that white people are privileged by their whiteness, and act in life as if they are not. Just this simple coupling of whiteness with "property" gave me a way to understand my privileged status without defensiveness or guilt.
There were many other great ideas, some of which were uncomfortable to read but none of which were unwelcome. I learned a great deal and I have a lot to think about now, which is a lot to say about a thin book of essays.
February 6, 2017
This is a hard book to read. I felt offended at times as if it was a personal attack on my accomplishments. I felt helpless at times as if there was nothing I, or anyone, could do to make the world a more fair place. But in the end, I felt glad to have read it.
Even though I had some inkling of White Privilege, I'll walk around my nearly all-white neighborhood with a new knowledge. I'll also walk around work and feel I'm doing good. I'm not the type of person to march or picket, they draw far too much attention to me for my liking. But as. a librarian, my job is on the front lines of the battle for racial equality. Granted, mine is a predominantly white community, but there are a few regulars that are people of color. And while the opportunity to attend college to further knowledge is not afforded to each race equally, the opportunity to make use of a public library's resources is much closer to being equal.
If you're white and you're concerned about racial equality, this book is a must read. It shines a light on racism that is hiding in plain sight. In doing so, it stirs up a lot of feelings, most of them bad, but stick with it. It's worth the discomfort.
Even though I had some inkling of White Privilege, I'll walk around my nearly all-white neighborhood with a new knowledge. I'll also walk around work and feel I'm doing good. I'm not the type of person to march or picket, they draw far too much attention to me for my liking. But as. a librarian, my job is on the front lines of the battle for racial equality. Granted, mine is a predominantly white community, but there are a few regulars that are people of color. And while the opportunity to attend college to further knowledge is not afforded to each race equally, the opportunity to make use of a public library's resources is much closer to being equal.
If you're white and you're concerned about racial equality, this book is a must read. It shines a light on racism that is hiding in plain sight. In doing so, it stirs up a lot of feelings, most of them bad, but stick with it. It's worth the discomfort.
July 8, 2007
This book is a collection of essays regarding "the other side of racism." It doesn't focus on the disenfranchisement of black communities, but the sense of entitlement that white people everywhere daily take advantage of. This is a lesson on the passive racism of White Americans.
May 30, 2011
Interesting set of essays on race, status, and cultural roles. Reveals the the invisible role of whiteness in the race dialogue. Essays generally short and quite readable. Balanced and thoughtful.
January 28, 2014
A sobering look at the undercurrent of white privilege in the U.S. It is not something white people have earned or are often aware of, but it is there. Most of the time it lays just under the surface, but raises its ugly, but powerful head when we look at statistics of home loan approvals, home sales, rates of incarceration across races. It lurks under the surface when we hear on the news how only people of color are described by their race, but white people are described by their accomplishments, jobs, or some other identifier (the normalizing of whiteness).
It is a small book, but speaks largely on a topic that most books seem to avoid or mention as "the problem" but fail to go further. This book unpacks the realities of which so many white people are unaware (or of which don't want to become aware), but use and rely on for their own success. A challenging, but worthwhile read.
It is a small book, but speaks largely on a topic that most books seem to avoid or mention as "the problem" but fail to go further. This book unpacks the realities of which so many white people are unaware (or of which don't want to become aware), but use and rely on for their own success. A challenging, but worthwhile read.
August 1, 2013
The book disturbs me by highlighting the ways in which white privilege is both insidious and invisible. No matter how well-meaning, I am still a part of the system. As Wildman and Davis put it, “all whites are racist in this use of the term, because we benefit from systematic white privilege. Generally whites think of racism as voluntary, intentional conduct, done be horrible others. (…) A big step would be for whites to admit that we are racist and then to consider what to do about it” (p.112).
The most troubling is the paradox that to be a white anti-racist one needs to acknowledge his or her personal racism (Joe Feagin and Hernan Vera).
There is a lot to be gained from this book, although as it is the case with most edited collections, the quality of pieces is uneven.
The most troubling is the paradox that to be a white anti-racist one needs to acknowledge his or her personal racism (Joe Feagin and Hernan Vera).
There is a lot to be gained from this book, although as it is the case with most edited collections, the quality of pieces is uneven.
August 31, 2014
There are some great essays in this collection, and i think it can be very useful for white folks learning to see whiteness. I just wish Tim Wise wasn't included. He consistently disregards criticism by People of Color of the methods of his so-called anti-racist activism. His entire career is built on white privilege yet he does not clear the way for work done by activists of color nor does he elevate their voices. So I don't appreciate anything he has to say on the topic of white privilege since he merely appropriates the language of activists of color to promote a different form of white supremacy.
March 11, 2014
Probably one of the most life-changing books on culture and racism that I've ever read. I would especially recommend this to anyone that might think racism is simply a part of history. This book deeply explains how it's not dead at all, it just looks different. If you think this doesn't apply to you because you haven't been discriminated against, it does. This applies to everyone. Black, White and everything in between.
May 24, 2007
Though I had reservations about parts of this book, I found my eyes opened to Race analysis as I had never thought about it before growing up as a white middle class kid. It changed the way I look at a lot of the world around me.
social-justice-bullshit
February 26, 2016https://violenceagainstwhites.wordpre...
White privilege?
White privilege?
January 23, 2023
Easy to read, low threshold for entry, lots of "big" names in anti-racist scholarship. I'm going to teach quite a few essays from this collection.
December 22, 2025
Very good essays throughout, we may have rearranged them in a different way if it was up to me. Overall very thought provoking!
December 18, 2021
I read this book to get a look at some of the fuel that has been added to the fire of modern Racism. I say modern Racism, which I mean to be this great movement to divide all the people of America into all their separate little groups who are now demanding respect of each other or else. This anger movement has people protesting to the point that most of us don't see the purpose of the protest, we just chalk it up as another protest, and of course there are always opportunist that use those protest as a great time to break a window and steal another T.V. or what ever else they can take, and still others that just plain enjoy inflicting their own level of violence just for the sake of doing it, So much fun. Back to the book. First it starts with the premise that all white people are privileged unfairly, making them the perpetrators of all the bad that any person of color might experience, (If their life is not wonderful then it must be the white persons fault), Then they went through history to find examples of the bad that white people have done to black people, I imagine that must have been the easiest part of writing this book, If you search out the bad, and allow any age for your search you can find great examples of bad to cover any subject you want too. What was strongly apparent with this great history lesson, was that there was not going to be a mention of the many years of progress that has led us from those bad examples of humans mistreating humans. The book would make more sense, if the Author who writes about Globalizing the curriculum, and seems to go along with basic socialist ideas, had just called the book, "American Privilege", That would better represent how some groups became white, such as Jews, and Irish, which were the examples given in this book, also it would even better explain how there are some people of color who somehow have done very well in this white privileged society without the BS this Author wrote about, that implied that the only way a different ethnic group could be accepted as White was for them to become racist against the blacks. Stupid statement like that should never be purchased as a book for our students. Because this book was mostly essays from other people there were some good parts, suggesting how people can address racism when they see it happening, I liked those parts. I can not support a book or politician in America that wants to divide our people, This country is unique in that it is built up of all races and religions, we could do away with all our laws and just have one law, Do Not Cause Harm To Others, and that would cover just about everything, the details could be worked out by judges to determine if harm had been done. Racism will not go away until the older generations are gone but if we raise our kids as Americans and not fill in the blank Americans, and legally hold people accountable for discrimination when it is found, in a few generations the children will never even know what you mean when you say racist. The world of today is very different than the world of my childhood, and I am only 56, It is only recently I became worried about racism starting all over again, what a let down after so much progress, It was starting to become rare enough that it stood out as a news item like a serial killer story, rare and horrible, but now this great push towards reverse racism to get even with the whites for the deeds of the past? Racism is ugly no matter the color and does not belong in America. America makes a great target because we have so many races, How many races are in China, Japan, South America, or in just about any other country, it is not called racism there, they are just maintaining their cultural integrity. In America most of us believe our cultural integrity is that every one of us has value in the human race, Our laws are to protect us from our government, and those who would oppress us if they could, bad things still happen but if brought into the light of day our laws still put the individuals rights ahead of the oppressor, and that is still worth fighting for. If this book is in your child's school it is important that you read it, I do not want my tax dollars paying to harm America. This is not a good read but knowing is better than not knowing what is happening in our schools.
January 9, 2015
This was good & short book for as introduction to the concept of white privilege. It is a collection of essays from various authors who shed light on the issue in various ways. It addresses how white people can be blind to privilege, how privilege came to be & functions in our society, how white people benefit from it & how to help combat it. The final chapter on how to be a better ally is a great way to end the book & it's principles can generally be applied to any other issue, be it sexism, homophobia, transphobia etc., It's about 140 pages & is definitely a good read, especially for white people, who genuinely want to understand the issue of racism.
August 29, 2013
I am using this as a reader for a freshman seminar on white privilege. Some pieces are great, some are mediocre; some are level-appropriate, some are inaccessible to teenagers. However, it provides a sound introduction to white privilege and serves as a helpful starting-off point for my course. The strongest pieces are the one by bell hooks and the one about the US' "possessive investment" in whiteness.
July 31, 2015
Overall a very effective primer on white privilege. I just personally struggled to pay attention despite the short chapters; the tone of some chapters is pretty dry, but some are more engaging. I think this would be a great resource for a regular discussion group, especially as the book already includes discussion questions with every section.
September 1, 2017
I was very hesitant and resistant for so much of this book, wanting to tell, "this isn't my fault" and "not my idea"
Then something clicked. It made sense. It didn't have to be my thoughts, feelings, ideas. It was just what was happening around me and my part in enjoying it without ever realizing it.
Refound this book to share it with my daughter.
Then something clicked. It made sense. It didn't have to be my thoughts, feelings, ideas. It was just what was happening around me and my part in enjoying it without ever realizing it.
Refound this book to share it with my daughter.
July 27, 2008
Interesting ideas, but textbook read. Overall it was a collection of essays with too many references. It's OK for a required read.
June 8, 2015
An excellent collection that takes up white supremacy across cultural, linguistic, and economic factors. For me, the pieces by Lipsitz and Mills were the most convincing.
July 14, 2017
Great collection of essays and articles. "Membership has its privileges" by Tim Wise and "The possessive investment in whiteness" by George Lipsitz are must reads.
July 12, 2025
Decent overview on the subject of white privilege clearly geared toward college students (or maybe older high school students). Published in 2005, the basic concepts and historical context still hold, although with a lot of the same information at about the same level being widely available online, I'm not sure how much will be totally new to even younger readers. The variety of perspectives and questions for discussion are probably of the most value for classroom purposes.
The strongest portion of the book for me was the section on the history of whiteness. All the selections, as short as they are, provide cultural context and nuance/complexity that I find frustratingly missing from basic discussions of what white privilege is and how it operates. The substance here is also more than cultural, it's material, showing how black people and other non-whites were shut out from accessing generational wealth and other social benefits historically.
There is some good analysis here that is more on the cultural side. McIntosh's classic essay on the subject is helpful for getting past people's defenses and thinking more about unrecognized privilege. Several essays emphasize the collective nature of solutions, understanding that the racism we're talking about is structural and not resolvable merely through change in individual actions.
Overall, I'd rather read a more in-depth history on the subject or a more detailed analysis. Or something like "Racecraft," which offers a different kind of analysis on the subject of racism. This is still a decent book for what it is and recommended for someone looking for an overview of the subject with more/better sources than your average social justice article online.
The strongest portion of the book for me was the section on the history of whiteness. All the selections, as short as they are, provide cultural context and nuance/complexity that I find frustratingly missing from basic discussions of what white privilege is and how it operates. The substance here is also more than cultural, it's material, showing how black people and other non-whites were shut out from accessing generational wealth and other social benefits historically.
There is some good analysis here that is more on the cultural side. McIntosh's classic essay on the subject is helpful for getting past people's defenses and thinking more about unrecognized privilege. Several essays emphasize the collective nature of solutions, understanding that the racism we're talking about is structural and not resolvable merely through change in individual actions.
Overall, I'd rather read a more in-depth history on the subject or a more detailed analysis. Or something like "Racecraft," which offers a different kind of analysis on the subject of racism. This is still a decent book for what it is and recommended for someone looking for an overview of the subject with more/better sources than your average social justice article online.
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June 17, 2020White Privilegeessential readings on the other side of racism by Paula S. Rothenberg
This is a collection of 16 essays and articles that seeks to make whiteness visible, to analyse the nature of white privilege, and to offer suggestions for using that privilege to combat racism.
As a member of so called “minority group”, I’ve always tried not to allow myself to think about racism. What would be the point? I’ve always believed in self sufficiency and merit, and my belief has always been not to dwell on things. This is not to say that I don’t believe that racism exists, on the contrary I know that it does, growing up with my parents I was very much aware of this when my parents had difficulty in finding decent housing
Reading “White Privilege” brought to light what I've always known but was not able to name. The book addresses the little spoken truth about white privilege, and how it operates. It traces historically how it came to be, and defines it as a conscious effort to keep and maintain power. The book also lays out the facts about institutionalized racism. This was a somewhat difficult book to read for me but I have to say that it was also enlightening and affirming. I would recommend that everyone read this book. The more we know the more empowered we become to change things.
This is a collection of 16 essays and articles that seeks to make whiteness visible, to analyse the nature of white privilege, and to offer suggestions for using that privilege to combat racism.
As a member of so called “minority group”, I’ve always tried not to allow myself to think about racism. What would be the point? I’ve always believed in self sufficiency and merit, and my belief has always been not to dwell on things. This is not to say that I don’t believe that racism exists, on the contrary I know that it does, growing up with my parents I was very much aware of this when my parents had difficulty in finding decent housing
Reading “White Privilege” brought to light what I've always known but was not able to name. The book addresses the little spoken truth about white privilege, and how it operates. It traces historically how it came to be, and defines it as a conscious effort to keep and maintain power. The book also lays out the facts about institutionalized racism. This was a somewhat difficult book to read for me but I have to say that it was also enlightening and affirming. I would recommend that everyone read this book. The more we know the more empowered we become to change things.
April 27, 2022
This was a collection of essays by different authors which did a great job of addressing the topic of white privilege and racism, however, I have some critiques. Obviously this is the second edition from 2004 so it is an older text and I’d imagine it’s a little better now that it’s been lengthened and updated. This is structured for educational settings so there was a few essays with heavy jargon that someone not familiar with this subject matter wouldn’t necessarily understand/ would probably lose interest. There were too many essays included that were written by white authors and not enough written by poc. Outside of these things, I think the concise book was helpful and included specifically a great work on the historical, structural, systemic effects with an explanation and history and application that I really found compelling and eye opening.
November 12, 2018
Well bummer. I just finished this book and then promptly left it behind so you won't be getting any "best of" excerpts. Nevertheless this is a great read, especially for anyone who is white and struggles to understand how privilege has and will continue to affect them throughout their lives. If we want to combat racism as a society it will take some painful acknowledgment from those of us who might prefer to just "all get along".
Some of the essays get quite academic, and I struggled through several of the chapters, but the content is spot on if you can commit to it, and it's a step in the right direction for those of us looking to move towards justice and compassion for all.
Some of the essays get quite academic, and I struggled through several of the chapters, but the content is spot on if you can commit to it, and it's a step in the right direction for those of us looking to move towards justice and compassion for all.
February 18, 2017
I found this book at the library after I finished reading another book. This book is interesting. I like the format of the book and there were a lot of things that I didn't know. I was intrigued by the title to understand what this book would encapsulate. The book is broken down into parts where it evolves from early settlers to present day issues with race being a social construct to how it manipulates society. I am definitely glad I read this book and recommend it to everyone who wants to hone in on how this evolved.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 64 reviews