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When Affirmative Action Was White: An Untold History of Racial Inequality in Twentieth-Century America Audible Audiobook – Unabridged

Ira Katznelson (Author), Jonathan Yen (Narrator), Tantor Audio (Publisher)
4.6 4.6 out of 5 stars 776 ratings
See all formats and editions

In this "penetrating new analysis" (New York Times Book Review), Ira Katznelson fundamentally recasts our understanding of 20th century American history and demonstrates that all the key programs passed during the New Deal and Fair Deal era of the 1930s and 1940s were created in a deeply discriminatory manner. Through mechanisms designed by southern democrats that specifically excluded maids and farm workers, the gap between blacks and whites actually widened despite postwar prosperity. In the words of noted historian Eric Foner, "Katznelson's incisive book should change the terms of debate about affirmative action, and about the last 70 years of American history.”

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  1. Listening Length
    8 hours and 20 minutes
  2. Author
    Ira Katznelson
  3. Narrator
    Jonathan Yen
  4. Audible release date
    August 16, 2016
  5. Language
    English
  6. Publisher
    Tantor Audio
  7. ASIN
    B01JPCQ6V0
  8. Version
    Unabridged
  9. Program Type
    Audiobook
  10. See all details
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Product details

Listening Length 8 hours and 20 minutes
Author Ira Katznelson
Narrator Jonathan Yen
Whispersync for Voice Ready
Audible.com Release Date August 16, 2016
Publisher Tantor Audio
Program Type Audiobook
Version Unabridged
Language English
ASIN B01JPCQ6V0
Best Sellers Rank #173,256 in Audible Books & Originals (See Top 100 in Audible Books & Originals)
#426 in Racism & Discrimination Studies
#3,174 in Discrimination & Racism
#3,473 in United States History (Audible Books & Originals)

Customer reviews

4.6 out of 5 stars
776 global ratings

Customers say

Customers find the book very informative, a good read, and interesting. They also say the analysis is new and interesting, and the content is interesting.

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AnalysisReading experienceContentCraftsmanship
29 customers mention "Analysis"29 positive0 negative

Customers find the book very informative, compelling, and powerful. They also say it sums things up nicely, is solidly researched, and well documented. Customers also say the book leaves a lasting impression and helps to see things more clearly.

"...I enjoy the read, it's knowledge and facts are incredible because sometimes things still haven't changed. A good read." Read more

"The book is extremely well-written, and the sources are very well documented...." Read more

"...In all, this book provides a phenomenal discussion about the ways in which African-Americans were excluded and are still kept from the benefits of..." Read more

"...The author does a good job of documenting the key decisions that laid the foundation for 'separate but equal'. Good read...." Read more

29 customers mention "Reading experience"29 positive0 negative

Customers find the book a good, remarkable, enjoyable read of facts untold. They also say it's well written and a wonderful history lesson.

"...A good read." Read more

"The book is extremely well-written, and the sources are very well documented...." Read more

"...But I do think the book is a good read . Also I would have preferred that the author suggests more solutions than he did...." Read more

"...It is a worthy read." Read more

3 customers mention "Content"3 positive0 negative

Customers find the content interesting, eye-opening, and surreal.

"Incredibly eye-opening. People talk about black history and institutional racism, but all you hear about is the most blatant racism and slavery...." Read more

"an eye opener and very surreal" Read more

"New, interesting..." Read more

3 customers mention "Craftsmanship"3 positive0 negative

Customers appreciate the craftsmanship of the book.

"...I was pleasantly surprised by the excellent condition it wa end...." Read more

"Good condition, brought new and is new as described" Read more

"Great quality. Came fast." Read more

Good Book!! So Good I Cited it in My Book!!
5 out of 5 stars

Good Book!! So Good I Cited it in My Book!!

When Affirmative Action was White explains the ways in which black people have been excluded from society. It was so good that I had to reference it in my book: The Real Wakandas of Africa: Dr. John Henrik Clarke vs. Herman Cain. When Affirmative Action Was White discusses a number of small and large ways that Black people have been kept from American wealth and resources. Ultimately, this has led to the black community becoming impoverished within the framework of a very wealthy American nation. This book details the history of welfare laws that were skewed toward white people in America, and were designed to exclude black people. In addition, it points out that homeownership was often denied to African-Americans. You will be left shocked by these policies that existed. In all, this book provides a phenomenal discussion about the ways in which African-Americans were excluded and are still kept from the benefits of American society. It is a worthy read.
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Top reviews from the United States

Lynnette
5.0 out of 5 stars When Affirmative Action Was White: An Untold History of Racial Inequality
Reviewed in the United States on June 3, 2024
Verified Purchase
Ira Katznelson was an excellent author for When Affirmative Action Was White. This untold history of racial inequality is an eye opener and page turner. It's a very informative and fact check book. The history is strong and sometimes sad look at the government system. I enjoy the read, it's knowledge and facts are incredible because sometimes things still haven't changed. A good read.
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Broward County Boy
5.0 out of 5 stars Thought-provoking book
Reviewed in the United States on April 1, 2013
Verified Purchase
The book is extremely well-written, and the sources are very well documented. Without question, the federal government chose for a couple of decades in the 20th century to massively invest in its citizens, but because of the machinations of some (mostly) Southern US politicians, opportunities for African-americans under these programs were severely restricted. These local bosses wanted to keep the sources of cheap and docile wage labor in place in their Southern states so as to keep their local hierarchies of race and class intact - it may have been a small totem pole in their communities, but at least they were on top of it and in control!

In contrast, many poorer whites outside the South were able to leapfrog into the middle class, and many descendants of immigrant Jews, Italians, and Slavs were able to become more fully integrated into US social and economic life. This book obviously makes some whites defensive, because the sources of this book demonstrate that they had LOTS of help achieving middle class status, and they would rather that we all settle into a collective amnesia about these facts regarding their past receipt of government assistance. (Well, maybe it isn't really amnesia -- some of these past beneficiaries will at present fight for more largesse under Social Security and Medicare). But they will still not admit they got government help - no!, they say, we earned it!!

I would differ from the author's statistical emphasis on averaging together all whites versus all African-americans, as this would obscure important differences of class within races. A frequent criticism of present affirmative action programs is that its beneficiaries are usually from amongst the more affluent and middle class members of the targeted groups, while the more poor segments continue to be shut out. Perhaps a different type of affirmative-action, based on focusing on underprivileged classes (irrespective of race) make more sense for 21st century America. That type of affirmative action would look a lot more like the affirmative action described in Mr. Katznelson's book.
24 people found this helpful
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Jahleel
4.0 out of 5 stars Overall a book worth reading
Reviewed in the United States on September 20, 2019
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I think one thing I dislike, perhaps I’m misinterpreting, was how the author towards the end said in order for us to reach a color blind society... I’m not the biggest fan of color blindness as we should all our differences as long as we are treated equally. But I do think the book is a good read . Also I would have preferred that the author suggests more solutions than he did. Also some of the reading was boring when he got deeply into the political stuff
2 people found this helpful
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Maurice Miles Martinez
5.0 out of 5 stars Good Book!! So Good I Cited it in My Book!!
Reviewed in the United States on October 15, 2021
Verified Purchase
When Affirmative Action was White explains the ways in which black people have been excluded from society. It was so good that I had to reference it in my book: The Real Wakandas of Africa: Dr. John Henrik Clarke vs. Herman Cain. When Affirmative Action Was White discusses a number of small and large ways that Black people have been kept from American wealth and resources. Ultimately, this has led to the black community becoming impoverished within the framework of a very wealthy American nation. This book details the history of welfare laws that were skewed toward white people in America, and were designed to exclude black people. In addition, it points out that homeownership was often denied to African-Americans. You will be left shocked by these policies that existed. In all, this book provides a phenomenal discussion about the ways in which African-Americans were excluded and are still kept from the benefits of American society. It is a worthy read.
Customer image
Maurice Miles Martinez
5.0 out of 5 stars Good Book!! So Good I Cited it in My Book!!
Reviewed in the United States on October 15, 2021
When Affirmative Action was White explains the ways in which black people have been excluded from society. It was so good that I had to reference it in my book: The Real Wakandas of Africa: Dr. John Henrik Clarke vs. Herman Cain. When Affirmative Action Was White discusses a number of small and large ways that Black people have been kept from American wealth and resources. Ultimately, this has led to the black community becoming impoverished within the framework of a very wealthy American nation. This book details the history of welfare laws that were skewed toward white people in America, and were designed to exclude black people. In addition, it points out that homeownership was often denied to African-Americans. You will be left shocked by these policies that existed. In all, this book provides a phenomenal discussion about the ways in which African-Americans were excluded and are still kept from the benefits of American society. It is a worthy read.
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10 people found this helpful
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AlanWarner
5.0 out of 5 stars Before It Was Called Affirmative Action
Reviewed in the United States on July 7, 2014
Verified Purchase
Americans especially white Americans benefitted from two federal sponsored programs designed to help them move into the middle class these programs were the Social Security Act of 1935 and The Servicemen's Readjustment Act of 1944 nicknamed The G I Bill of Rights the amazing thing about the Social Security Act is that it intentionally excluded domestic workers and farm workers as stated on page 43 "Unfortunately, the great majority of blacks were left out. Most African Americans, we have seen, were farm workers or domestics, and people in these categories did not qualify." "Not until 1954, when Republicans controlled the White House, the Senate, and the House of Representatives, and the southern Democrats finally lost their ability to mold legislation, were the occupational exclusions that had kept the large majority of blacks out of the Social Security system eliminated." As for The G I Bill even though this was a federal program the administrative duties and distribution of funds was handled and left up to the individual states on page 114 "To be sure, the G I Bill did create a more middle-class society, but almost exclusively for whites.Written under southern auspices, the law was deliberately designed to accommodate Jim Crow. Its administration widened the country's racial gap. The prevailing experience for blacks was starkly differential treatment." An individual example of this differential treatment can be found on page 139 read "The case of Reuben Thompson of Rome, Georgia," And on page 140 "these impediments were not confined to the South. In New York and northern New Jersey suburbs, fewer than 100 of the 67,000 mortgages insured by the G I Bill supported home purchases by non-whites". This is a perfect example of how white people were able to advance into middle-class status, the material in this book is a major part of American history.
108 people found this helpful
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Herb Ballard
5.0 out of 5 stars Facts
Reviewed in the United States on February 7, 2024
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Good to know who really benefited
One person found this helpful
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Top reviews from other countries

lerone
5.0 out of 5 stars Sing of the times
Reviewed in Canada on August 31, 2018
Verified Purchase
excellent book that fits the time that we live in. The difference in people and ideas- hate is hate; poor is poor.
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