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Who Is Black?: One Nation's Definition
 
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Who Is Black?: One Nation's Definition [Paperback]

F. James Davis (Author)
4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (6 customer reviews)


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Book Description

June 1991
"Who is Black? is a major contribution to our understanding of how ‘race’ is defined in American society. Unlike most other countries in the world, the United States still adheres to the ‘one–drop rule,’ but only for American Blacks. The rule doesn’t apply to other racial groups. How and why this rule developed, efforts to change it, and the impact it has had are discussed in clear, non–technical language. Davis has written an important book for social scientists and the public at large."—Rita J. Simon, American University

"[Davis] addresses an increasingly important and timely question in this scholarly social science study, one of the most comprehensive to date. . . .An interesting objective, in-depth study."—Booklist

"An eye-opening appraisal of an issue often taken for granted in America."—Publishers Weekly

"This book is a very important contribution to the field. Scholars in sociology, history, race and ethnic relations, anthropology, and black studies will all be very interested in this book. It could be assigned in undergraduate and graduate courses on race and ethnicity because it makes a central point that is often hard to get across to student—that a race is a social and not a biological concept.; This book could also have appeal to a general audience because of its use of biography and references to historical figures and to literature. No other book so widely surveys this phenomenon, although it is widely known that it is a very important subject."—Mary C. Waters, Harvard University, author of Ethnic Options: Choosing Identities in America

"Though scholarly in tone, this fascinating book answers many questions but will leave readers with other questions that need to be answered. A definite addition to the available work on miscegenation and African American studies."—Library Journal



Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

The ``one-drop rule'' (referring to ``one drop'' of black blood) defines as black ``any person with any known African ancestry.'' Both blacks and whites embrace this overly broad definition, which is peculiar to the U.S. Davis ( Society and the Law ) argues that this ``Big Lie . . . causes traumatic personal experiences, dilemmas of personal identity, misperceptions of the racial classification of well over a billion of the earth's people, conflicts in families and in the black community, and more.'' During slave days and the era of Jim Crow laws, whites used the rule to minimize the potential disruptions of miscegenation--usually illicit or coercive sex between white males and black females--by classifying the offspring as black. Blacks currently accept the one-drop rule, often disapproving of those with lighter skin who ``pass'' for white or marry across perceived color lines. Early chapters are thick with statistics, and chapter summaries mark the work as a textbook wannabe. However, later sections, such as the gripping narrative of Lena Horne's troubled experiences as a light-skinned black, are enlightening. This is an eye-opening appraisal of an issue often taken for granted in America.

Copyright 1991 Cahners Business Information, Inc.

From Library Journal

African Americans and white Americans have been inbreeding since the beginnings of slavery. Offspring of these matches were often defined by the "one-drop rule" (one drop of black blood made one black). Davis, a sociology professor, offers a well-researched history of this rule and its social and legal effects on the people of mixed race in America. Many were harassed by blacks because they were too light, while others tried to "pass" as white, ignoring the one-drop rule and, as a result, part of their heritage. Davis also compares the United States with other countries to see how they handled this issue. Though scholarly in tone, this fascinating book answers many questions but will leave readers with other questions that need to be answered. A definite addition to the available work on miscegenation and African American studies. For all academic libraries.
- Danna C. Bell-Russel, Marymount Univ. Lib., Arlington, Va.
Copyright 1991 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Product Details

  • Paperback: 200 pages
  • Publisher: Pennsylvania State Univ Pr (June 1991)
  • Language: English
  • ISBN-10: 0271007494
  • ISBN-13: 978-0271007496
  • Product Dimensions: 8.9 x 6 x 0.6 inches
  • Shipping Weight: 11.2 ounces
  • Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (6 customer reviews)
  • Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,743,313 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

6 Reviews
5 star:
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4 star:
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3 star:
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Average Customer Review
4.0 out of 5 stars (6 customer reviews)
 
 
 
 
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5 of 6 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars Fascinating exploration of the "one-drop rule"., August 1, 2004
This is one of the best books I've ever read. Americans of all ethnic groups should read this, because it answers a lot of questions. To me it seems absurd to believe that human beings can be divided into discrete biological "races," and this book provides plenty of evidence for that view.
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6 of 8 people found the following review helpful:
3.0 out of 5 stars Who Is Black?, May 10, 2002
This book develops the need for compassion towards those of mixed race. It gives you an insightful view of how light skinned blacks feel about not being "black enough". I was hoping that the author would speak out and AGAINST the one drop rule, but instead he sort of leaves you with the feeling that he would rather keep the rule, but change the minds and attitudes of people.
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5 of 7 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars A dangerous myth, December 8, 2000
By 
David Dibble (Oakland, CA United States) - See all my reviews
This review is from: Who Is Black?: One Nation's Definition (Paperback)
Who Is Black?

F. James Davis asks this question in the title to his book by the same name as though there were an answer. He documents how we, the people of United States, have addoped a "one drop rule." This rule has been adopted by both courts and legislation. Brown vs Board of Education, which desegrigated our schools in 1954 which overrulled the 1896 Plessy case which established theold "seperate but equal" doctrine accepted the concept that public school students should be classified by race as was the mixed race Mr. Plessy who sat in the white section of the train when he in fact had more white ancestors than Aafrican.

Davis points out how silly this rule is in the light of late twentith century anthropology and genitics and yet he does not advocate for the end of unscientific race lables by all educated people. He frequently uses the term "miscegnation" which implies something wrong, when I could have better used the term "blending of gene pools."

I would recomend this book to anyone who would like to see the laws take a lead in declaring that the 13th, 14th & 15th make the special treatment of people by race unconstitutional.

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