Uprooting Racism: How White People Can Work for Racial Justice [Paperback]

Paul Kivel (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: November 1995

Continuously at the top of New Society Publishers’ best-seller list for five years, Uprooting Racism has sold over 25,000 copies since its first printing. Substantially revised and expanded, the new edition has more tools to help white people understand and stand-up to racism.

Uprooting Racism explores the manifestations of racism in politics, work, community, and family life. It moves beyond the definition and unlearning of racism to address the many areas of privilege for white people and suggests ways for individuals and groups to challenge the structures of racism. Uprooting Racism’s welcoming style helps readers look at how we learn racism, what effects it has on our lives, its costs and benefits to white people, and what we can do about it.

In addition to updating existing chapters, the new edition of Uprooting Racism explores how entrenched racism has been revealed in the new economy, the 2000 electoral debacle, rising anti-Arab prejudice, and health care policy. Special features include exercises, questions, and suggestions to engage, challenge assumptions, and motivate the reader towards social action. The new edition includes an index and an updated bibliography.

Marketing Plans:
• Print review campaign to progressive and social action magazines
• Web publicity campaign to progressive and activist sites
• Course adoption campaign
• Advertising in Education magazines
• Promotional mailing to libraries

Paul Kivel is the author of Boys Will Be Men (ISBN: 0-86571-395-2, New Society Publishers, 1999) and Men's Work (ISBN: 0-34537-939-X, Ballantine, 1998). He is the founder of the nationally recognized Oakland's Men's Project and has conducted hundreds of workshops on racism and anti-violence for teens and men all over the country. He lives in Oakland, California.

Also Available by Paul Kivel
Boys Will Be Men: Raising Our Sons for Courage, Caring, and Community
TP $16.95, 0-86571-395-2 • USA

--This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Editorial Reviews

Review

Can white people work for racial justice? Kivel's tells average readers how to intervene against racism in situations where it's usually encountered: at work, in public, and on the home front. It's easy not to get involved in massive political stances; but hard to ignore the practical advice and examples here, which share stories and advice on how to fight racism at home. -- Midwest Book Review

About the Author

Paul Kivel is the founder of the Oakland's Men's Project and has conducted hundreds of workshops on racism and anti-violence for teens and men all over the USA. He lives in Oakland, California. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Product Details

• Paperback: 208 pages
• Publisher: New Society Publishers; 1St Edition edition (November 1995)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0865713383
• ISBN-13: 978-0865713383
• Product Dimensions: 8.8 x 5.9 x 0.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 12 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 3.1 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (13 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #926,933 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

80 of 90 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars An outstanding book... useful for everyone!!, April 30, 1998

By 

Tim Birchard ([e-mail]) (Texas, United States of America) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Uprooting Racism: How White People Can Work for Racial Justice (Paperback)

Kivel's book Uprooting Racism is very powerful. In it he offers concrete examples of how privilege exists in the day-to-day lives of Whites (European Americans), and furthermore, how Whites (like myself) can come to recognize this privilege (which is invisible to most Whites because it has become part of the institution of American society--passed down for generations so that many Whites don't even recognize its existence anymore) and work toward equity and equality for everyone. It gives examples of how to fight racism on the personal level, in common, everyday affairs.
Most importantly, it brings to light the many subtle, yet powerful, ways that even well-intentioned Whites act in ways that promote injustice, and gives powerful suggestions for improving the lives of everyone. Even those who believe themselves to be "non-racist" or "anti-racist" will find value in this book-- (I'd say 'ESPECIALLY those who believe themselves to be non-racist or anti-racist', since these are the people who UNKNOWINGLY promote racism and injustice.) Recommended to everyone, not just European Americans.

83 of 96 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Required reading for white guys..., September 8, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: Uprooting Racism: How White People Can Work for Racial Justice (Paperback)

I read this book for a social work class that focused on racial differences. Initially I was assigned to read only the first chapter but found myself reading the entire book over a weekend. I was engrossed with the book and at the same time angered and disturbed because it told me things about myself I did not want to believe. If you're a white male struggling with your identity in America I strongly recommend that you read this book. And if you're not struggling with that I recommend you read this book.

I learned a lot about myself by reading this book and especially by re-reading it after I had calmed down a bit. It might seem at first that the book is just an attack on white males but its not.

52 of 59 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A New Edition--Great!, May 29, 2002

By 

Joan Duerst OP (Tulsa, OK United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Uprooting Racism: How White People Can Work for Racial Justice (Paperback)

When I began reading the previous edition a few years ago, I realized that I wanted to discuss it with other white people as I worked through the exercises.

As a result five women in leadership roles in their church congregations discussed this book over lunches over some months. It took as many lunches as there are chapters. We learned much about ourselves as white women and much about the history of racism in the United States.

I continue to look for ways to share the impact of this book with others. I am pleased that there is a new edition and look forward to seeing what has made this very useful book even better.