Racist America: Roots, Current Realities and Future Reparations [Paperback]

Joe R. Feagin (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: January 14, 2010 | ISBN-10: 0415992079 | ISBN-13: 978-0415992077 | Edition: 2

This second edition of Joe Feagin’s Racist America is extensively revised and thoroughly updated, with a special eye toward racism issues cropping up constantly in the Barack Obama era.

This tenth anniversary edition incorporates many dozens of new research studies on U.S. racial issues that significantly extend and update the first edition's major chapters. It accents exciting new and provocative concepts, especially the white racial frame and systemic racism.

The author has also added readable, perceptive discussions of numerous studies in new research areas such as environmental racism, race and health, and antiracist strategies, as well as in all other research areas covered in the first edition. He has thoroughly edited and polished the book to make it much more readable for undergraduates, including eliminating repetitive materials, simplifying endnotes, adding headings and more cross-referencing, and adding a glossary and many new and interesting examples, anecdotes, and narratives about contemporary racism, including at the opening of all chapters.

Editorial Reviews

Review

"Racist America is a call-to-arms to those committed to fighting for a post-racist America and a brilliant mapping of the architecture needed for an effective anti-racist theory of social change. It is public sociology at its best. It is liberation sociology at its best. It is Joe Feagin at his best."—Ben Carrington, Sociology, University of Texas, Austin

"Racist America traces the significance of racism in the construction and development of the nation since its infancy. In this second edition, Joe R. Feagin has updated his classic book to include developments in the Obamerica era."—Eduardo Bonilla-Silva, Sociology, Duke University

About the Author

Joe R. Feagin is Ella C. McFadden Professor at Texas A & M University. Feagin has done research on racism and sexism issues for forty-five years and has served as the Scholar-in-Residence at the U.S. Commission on Civil Rights. He has written 54 scholarly books and nearly 200 scholarly articles in his research areas, and one of his books (Ghetto Revolts) was nominated for a Pulitzer Prize. His recent books include Systemic Racism (Routledge 2006) and Two Faced Racism: Whites in the Backstage and Frontstage (Routledge 2007). He is the 2006 recipient of a Harvard Alumni Association lifetime achievement award and was the 1999-2000 president of the American Sociological Association.

Product Details

• Paperback: 376 pages
• Publisher: Routledge; 2 edition (January 14, 2010)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0415992079
• ISBN-13: 978-0415992077
• Product Dimensions: 6 x 0.9 x 9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.1 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 3.3 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #266,601 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Most Helpful Customer Reviews

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful

4.0 out of 5 stars Don't listen to the other reviews - 3.5 Stars July 16, 2012

By AaronMan

Format:Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase

As of today 7/16/2012 there are only two other reviews on this book other than my own. Although they are completely different in opinion they both equally outrageous.

What I think both reviews might not have caught was that the author was trying to say that whites were the first group to have an economic system grounded in race based slavery, not that white's were the only ones to hold slaves.

To the reviewer who said that racism is a white problem and not a colored problem you are correct. If you manage to conveniently forget about the ancient Egyptians, Pol Pot in Cambodia, and the relatively recent black on black genocide in Rwanda (all based on racism)just to name a few then you would be left with whites being the only racist group. Come on, what you wrote is nothing more than an emotionally charged rant.

To the reviewer who said it blames whites for everything I didn't think that at all. I think what the author had to say was legitimate. He calls out the systematic racism that really does exist. Before you start thinking I'm some white guy who feels guilty about slavery I'm not. I try to be as realistic as possible about everything and from what I have read and researched there is a system of racism (and I don't feel bad about slavery, I really don't even care that it happened).

Now, on the actual review, I'll make this quick.

I thought Feagin was good about pointing out stereotypes and institutional racism, but some of the chapters are really weak where it feel like he has a point to make and just has a hard time backing it up. He goes after conservatives early and often and sometimes seems to play the political game of "Well, if they like it then I don't". Some of his chapters rely to heavily on numbers and it's easy to get confused or mixed up.

Overall, I would recommend it for a college course, but most definitely not for leisurely reading

P.S. for anyone reading reviews I have learned that people who use the words "truth", "fair", and "facts" in their names are always by far the most biased individuals.

7 of 12 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Not Surprised February 19, 2012

By OnlyTruth

Format:Paperback

I would not be surprised at those of the white race having feelings of hate,hostility and disgust after reading this book. It tells the truth about racism in America. Those of the white race are oblivious and ignorant to racism and possess no knowledge about racism, yet always speak as they do. They don't care to hear or talk about it; yet when they do, the ignorance and hostility is amazing. They will get angry as though it doesn't exist. This perpetuates racism and division and keeps the status quo of the (delusional) feeling of superiority. Racism has always been the problem of white people, it has never been the problem for those of color. It is their problem where it all began here in the so called "United" States of America. Racism will never end until they realize that it is their problem. It has always been their tool to dehumanize, enslave, oppress,control and dominate those of color...and still is. Yet, they will say, "it's their problem.", or pretend it doesn't exist. Status quo...keeping power,privilege and control... is what that is. Unfortunately, as one of the results of racism (indeed festering in every nook of America )has been internalized racism born in the hearts and minds of those who are the victims of racism----that is why they themselves will call themselves "n.." It's the same dynamic placed upon an abused women--she will begin to believe her abuser's words and actions of abuse towards herself; therefore treating herself as her abuser does.Until she wakes up. What is written in this book is similiar to Allan Johnson, (white author) in his book," Privilege, Power And Difference."

2 of 19 people found the following review helpful

1.0 out of 5 stars Completely one-sided January 28, 2012

By Swift Justice

Format:Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase

Such a terrible book in my opinion. Obviously, whites are to blame for the majority of racism in our world, but to think it is all the white mans' fault is outrageous. This book only points out the struggles of blacks in society...what about every other race that has been subjected to hate?
It also seems to think that a black individual is infallible when it comes to believes on equality. Plus, the fact that the n word is thrown around among black citizens to each other certainly doesn't help their cause. This is a terribly organized review because I am just annoyed that it takes one side of the problem of racism.

All-in-all a horribly written book. I couldn't imagine anyone buying this crap other than for a class in college, so I'd advise picking a different course. You will find yourself annoyed reading this uneducated diatribe against white society.

(before you think I'm thinking the whites are the pinnacle of society...they are certainly not, but it is a global problem. whites certainly deserve the most blame, but there is plenty to go around)