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When Affirmative Action Was White: An Untold History of Racial Inequality in Twentieth-Century America Reprint Edition

4.6 4.6 out of 5 stars 779 ratings

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A groundbreaking work that exposes the twisted origins of affirmative action.

In this "penetrating new analysis" (New York Times Book Review) Ira Katznelson fundamentally recasts our understanding of twentieth-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 seventy years of American history."

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Customer reviews

4.6 out of 5 stars
779 global ratings

Customers say

Customers find the book very informative, well-researched, and great for social science students. They describe it as a good, interesting, and well-written read. Readers also find the content eye-opening and surreal.

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29 customers mention "Information quality"29 positive0 negative

Customers find the book very informative, well-researched, and great for social science students. They say it provides a phenomenal discussion about how African-Americans are treated. Readers also mention the author does a good job of documenting the key decisions that laid the foundation for segregation. In addition, they say the book makes some good arguments and provides a powerful historical analysis of the use of affirmative action.

"...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

"...Great Depression's New Deal to Johnson's Great Society is an eye-opener for its detail, and for linking the way legislation that looks universal was..." 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

29 customers mention "Readability"29 positive0 negative

Customers find the book to be well-written, interesting, and awesome. They also say it's short and to the point.

"...A good read." Read more

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

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

"...Good read. I would recommend to anyone wanting to understand race relations in America." Read more

3 customers mention "Eye-opening"3 positive0 negative

Customers find the book eye-opening, interesting, 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

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3 customers mention "Value for money"3 positive0 negative

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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

Reviewed in the United States on June 3, 2024
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.
Reviewed in the United States on April 1, 2013
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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Reviewed in the United States on February 5, 2010
Katznelson's historical review of how legislation has been implemented from the Great Depression's New Deal to Johnson's Great Society is an eye-opener for its detail, and for linking the way legislation that looks universal was implemented through states rights to benefit whites and not blacks.
The control of Congress by 17 southern states intent on maintaining racist states' rights segregation made every decent piece of legistation including the GI Bill a boon for white folks and an impediment for African-Americans. Thus affirmative action for whites, of the books's title, was a result of a nearly invisible operation over and over; IN ORDEWR TO GET ANY LEGISLATION PASSED, CONCESSIONS HAD TO BE MADE TO THE SOUTHERNERS WHO CONTROLLED COMMITTEES AND THUS LEGISLATION. Because of their one-party white rule in their states, they had seniority in national legislatures, so they had control until Johnson, part of the southern bloc, broke rank during the civil rights struggles.
This is a must-read book for its historical documentation of how white working class peoiple benefitted and african-american working class people were denied.
33 people found this helpful
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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.
Customer image
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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Top reviews from other countries

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