Why, despite continued efforts to increase understanding and expand opportunities, do black and white Americans still lead separate lives, continually marked by tension and hostility? In his much-lauded classic, newly updated to reflect the changing realities of race in our nation, Andrew Hacker explains the origins and meaning of racism and clarifies the conflicting theories of equality and inferiority. He paints a stark picture of racial inequality in America -- focusing on family life, education, income, and employment -- and explores the current controversies over politics, crime, and the causes of the gap between the races. Illuminating and oftentimes startling, Two Nations demonstrates how race has defined America's history and will continue to shape its future.
Two Nations: Black and White, Separate, Hostile, Unequal
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Editorial Reviews
From Publishers Weekly
The author, a political science professor at Queens College in New York City, contends that whites' deep-rooted, pervasive racism against blacks has created "America's version of apartheid." Many white Americans, especially political conservatives, still harbor the prejudice that blacks are genetically inferior, he states. In an important, powerfully argued, dispassionate report that makes liberal use of tables and statistics, Hacker ( The End of the American Era ) documents racist attitudes and practices in the business sector, reveals the low percentage of blacks enrolled in colleges and exposes white racism in politics, employment practices and education and the public's perception of crime and welfare. Turning to blacks' "self-inflicted genocide" through drugs and street violence, he argues that white America shares a large measure of responsibility for this situation because it has fostered a racial chasm--a divide that seems likely to persist unless drastic steps are taken.
Copyright 1992 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.
Copyright 1992 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.
From Library Journal
Hacker, who teaches political science at Queens College, is author of many essays and book reviews on race and class. Here he expounds on the thesis that "America's two principal races"--blacks and whites--are as separate and unequal as ever. Using pointed anecdotes and statistics, Hacker takes the reader through the stigma blacks feel in this country, examining the subtext of everyday acts of bias on the part of whites toward blacks. He then compares sexuality, childbirth and family, income, employment, educational equity and performance, segregated schooling, and crime between the two groups, compellingly arguing that racism does underlie much of the lag that blacks experience in this society. Hacker's research covers history, philosophical writings, and census and other statistics. His discussion of other ethnic groups, however, is less successful (e.g., grouping Asians together in terms of educational performance). Nevertheless, this is necessary reading, recommended for all public and academic libraries. Previewed in Prepub Alert, LJ 11/15/91; see also Stud Terkel's Race: How Blacks and Whites Think and Feel About the American Obsession , reviewed on p. 115.--Ed.
-Christina Carter, California State Univ. Lib., Fresno
Copyright 1992 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.
-Christina Carter, California State Univ. Lib., Fresno
Copyright 1992 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
8 of 9 people found the following review helpful
By A Customer
Format:Paperback
While Hacker uses statistics to illustrate the divide between black and white America, his book is anything but dry. Furthermore, while Hacker is an academic, he avoids the text book type of writing that many academics are known for. Two Nations is interesting, provocative and should be required reading in any class that attempts to address the problems of race in America. Although Hacker's book doesn't provide any solutions, he doesn't proport to. He is truly the foremost writer on race in America. Read Two Nations and find out why.
36 of 48 people found the following review helpful
By Poniplaizy
Format:Paperback
First, I would say that this book is refreshingly dispassionate and un-overheated, both qualities that have been sorely lacking in recent discussions of race. Also, there is plenty of truth in it--some explicitly stated, some not quite so obvious. But truth is a two-edged sword, and Mr. Hacker doesn't come clean about all of it. I think he truly believed he was presenting an objective discussion, and he actually came pretty close, but for a few caveats.
The book does a good job of showing the daily trials black people face, and includes a clever exercise that can jolt you into awareness of just how much you do value your white skin. It also talks straight about how much racism runs deep underground or happens behind the façade of political correctness, and about both sides of the slavery issue. But it runs into trouble in a few ways. First, the author theorizes that other minorities such as Asians and Jews, become "honorary whites" by virtue of their achievements. He thinks the dichotomy is white/nonwhite, but I think it's just the opposite: black/nonblack. Nobody thinks Asians or Arabs are white, but because they're not black, they get more openings and more respect than black people do.
Then there is the statistical data. In every chapter, Hacker gives plenty of it, but then explains or excuses away what the numbers say. And some of his arguments are pretty specious. He says that blacks do less well in school because the oppressive presence of whites makes them feel so hopeless they just give up before they start. Well, that's on a par with my saying that I never did well in math because the fact that there were Asian kids in my class made me feel so insecure I didn't even try. If I'd tried that excuse at home, my parents would've laughed in my face and then told me to quit blaming everybody else, get off my hind end, and either hit the books or go to my teacher for extra help. Hacker never connects the dots, but the data say that blacks have sex earlier and less responsibly; do poorly in school and are more likely to drop out; and commit a disproportionate amount of crime, usually on each other.
Hacker offers the usual explanation for all this: It's white people's fault. I'm willing to grant that it's probably not a lot of fun to be black, and that blacks have suffered some unbelievable injustices that still sting and probably leave a psychological residue. But Hacker leaves unsaid the problem that blacks keep digging their own graves in a lot of ways. He seems to think white guilt is some kind of solution to the problem; but what would feelings of guilt really accomplish without action? And I mean action on the part of both whites and blacks. Nobody's saying pretend all those terrible things never happened--but nobody's holding a gun to anyone's head telling them to start having babies in their teens, drop out of school, start dealing drugs, and commit crimes on their fellow citizens either. At some point you have to take some personal responsibility.
How to achieve a real solution? I don't know. I felt unsettled after reading the book, like only half the story had been told. I understand that the author is a journalist and that presenting current reality is his job, and he does it very well. I hope he will write a follow-up where he explores possible solutions, because an intelligent, even-handed, level-headed discussion could only benefit everyone.
The book does a good job of showing the daily trials black people face, and includes a clever exercise that can jolt you into awareness of just how much you do value your white skin. It also talks straight about how much racism runs deep underground or happens behind the façade of political correctness, and about both sides of the slavery issue. But it runs into trouble in a few ways. First, the author theorizes that other minorities such as Asians and Jews, become "honorary whites" by virtue of their achievements. He thinks the dichotomy is white/nonwhite, but I think it's just the opposite: black/nonblack. Nobody thinks Asians or Arabs are white, but because they're not black, they get more openings and more respect than black people do.
Then there is the statistical data. In every chapter, Hacker gives plenty of it, but then explains or excuses away what the numbers say. And some of his arguments are pretty specious. He says that blacks do less well in school because the oppressive presence of whites makes them feel so hopeless they just give up before they start. Well, that's on a par with my saying that I never did well in math because the fact that there were Asian kids in my class made me feel so insecure I didn't even try. If I'd tried that excuse at home, my parents would've laughed in my face and then told me to quit blaming everybody else, get off my hind end, and either hit the books or go to my teacher for extra help. Hacker never connects the dots, but the data say that blacks have sex earlier and less responsibly; do poorly in school and are more likely to drop out; and commit a disproportionate amount of crime, usually on each other.
Hacker offers the usual explanation for all this: It's white people's fault. I'm willing to grant that it's probably not a lot of fun to be black, and that blacks have suffered some unbelievable injustices that still sting and probably leave a psychological residue. But Hacker leaves unsaid the problem that blacks keep digging their own graves in a lot of ways. He seems to think white guilt is some kind of solution to the problem; but what would feelings of guilt really accomplish without action? And I mean action on the part of both whites and blacks. Nobody's saying pretend all those terrible things never happened--but nobody's holding a gun to anyone's head telling them to start having babies in their teens, drop out of school, start dealing drugs, and commit crimes on their fellow citizens either. At some point you have to take some personal responsibility.
How to achieve a real solution? I don't know. I felt unsettled after reading the book, like only half the story had been told. I understand that the author is a journalist and that presenting current reality is his job, and he does it very well. I hope he will write a follow-up where he explores possible solutions, because an intelligent, even-handed, level-headed discussion could only benefit everyone.
16 of 21 people found the following review helpful
By Carl Skutsch
Format:Paperback
I'm amazed at some of my fellow reviewers. Hacker pickes on whites? Sucks up to blacks? Hardly.
I read the book some years ago and was very impressed. Hacker's use of statistics cuts through a lot of the rhetoric that surround the issue of race in America. I don't agree with all his conclusions--on the topic of race, none of us agree on every point--but he makes some very good points. My only complaint, actually, is the analysis is a bit light. I would have liked to see him draw some more conclusions. Still, if you want a statistical overview of race, linked with some good commentary, here's a place to start.
Oh, and I suppose I should mention I'm a white guy. Not a self-hating white guy, just a white guy. And I didn't and don't feel picked on by Hacker's book.
I read the book some years ago and was very impressed. Hacker's use of statistics cuts through a lot of the rhetoric that surround the issue of race in America. I don't agree with all his conclusions--on the topic of race, none of us agree on every point--but he makes some very good points. My only complaint, actually, is the analysis is a bit light. I would have liked to see him draw some more conclusions. Still, if you want a statistical overview of race, linked with some good commentary, here's a place to start.
Oh, and I suppose I should mention I'm a white guy. Not a self-hating white guy, just a white guy. And I didn't and don't feel picked on by Hacker's book.
Most Recent Customer Reviews
1.0 out of 5 stars
Incomplete and Prejudicial
Remember the multiple choice exams with only one right choice? Remember the tweaked version with three seemingly right choices but really only one right choice? Read more
Published 23 months ago by T. Stilwell
1.0 out of 5 stars
baloney
Michael Levin demolishes the theme of this book in his own book WHY RACE MATTERS.
Published on March 25, 2010 by Nom de plume
5.0 out of 5 stars
A must read
Hacker does it again and with vengeance. This book is a must read and aknowledge.
Published on January 31, 2010 by L. Muller
2.0 out of 5 stars
Hacker's personal guilt must be all consuming
I chose to read this book for a history course, wanting to spread my wings a bit and examine a point-of-view I don't consider often enough. Certainly, I am not the white man Mr. Read more
Published on September 29, 2009 by R. Lohaus
5.0 out of 5 stars
Great book for it's honesty and and intellectual acumen
Having read this book in 1992 and recently purchased it for my collection, this a great read with various chapters based on history, politcal,and social mores of African- Americans... Read more
Published on August 31, 2006 by E. D. Daniels
4.0 out of 5 stars
Two Nations: Black and White, Seperate, Hostile, Unequal
This book points out, that even in the 21st Century; the separation of black and white, with hostility and un-equality still exists. Read more
Published on March 13, 2006 by Andrea Overmyer
2.0 out of 5 stars
This book was sometimes interesting but
the plethora of percentages and numbers weigh it down. The views of the author were one sided and sometimes a little biased agaisnt the majority. Read more
Published on November 8, 2002 by L. G. Schilling
2.0 out of 5 stars
Not so good
First off, I'll admit that I didn't read the whole book. Now I'll say my peace on it. Hacker generalizes broadly about the behaviors and sentiments of both whites and blacks. Read more
Published on June 1, 2000
3.0 out of 5 stars
lucid, fair-minded, and well-written, yet very flawed
I read this book as an undergraduate for a "Race and Gender" course I took as an elective. Read more
Published on March 25, 2000 by John Pate
5.0 out of 5 stars
a great book
this book is a must have for all to read&see.despite some progress in Society we still have a long ways to go as far as Equality is concerned.Money is the Law of the Land. Read more
Published on February 5, 2000 by A customer
Citations (learn more)
This book cites 32
books:
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100
books
cite this book:
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- An American Dilemma: The Negro Problem and Modern Democracy (Black and African-American Studies) by Gunnar Myrdal in Front Matter, Back Matter (1), and Back Matter (2)
- Democracy in America (Signet Classics) by Alexis de Tocqueville on page 247, Back Matter (1), and Back Matter (2)
- The Fire Next Time by James Baldwin on page 79, and Back Matter
- Common Ground: A Turbulent Decade in the Lives of Three American Families by J. Anthony Lukas in Front Matter, and Back Matter
- Blacks in College: A Comparative Study of Students' Success in Black and in White Institutions by Jacqueline Fleming on page 174, and page 181
See all 32 books this book cites
- Erasing Racism: The Survival of the American Nation by Molefi Kete Asante on 9 pages
- Blackness Visible: Essays on Philosophy and Race by Charles W. Mills on 7 pages
- Long Way to Go: Black and White in America by Jonathan Coleman on 6 pages
- Crossing the Color Line by Maureen T Reddy on 5 pages
- Behind the Open Door: Racism and Other Contradictions in the Community College by William Moore on 5 pages
See all 100 books citing this book
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