Portraits of White Racism

First published in 1977, this book advanced a distinctively sociological theory of racism. In this revised edition the theoretical perspective is updated.

David T. Wellman (Author)

9780521458108, Cambridge University Press

Paperback, published 24 September 1993

288 pages
21.4 x 13.9 x 2.2 cm, 0.43 kg

"...Wellman provides insight on how the racial ideas of scholars filter into meanings of race for individual Americans....Wellman's exploration of white racism dramatically confirms the almost unconscious nature of racism....Wellman shows that race is a fundamental component of American national identity....Racism, as Wellman elucidates in his analysis, has its roots in the structure of the society, not in the separate psyches of flawed and prejudiced individuals." Debra Van Ausdale, Journal of American Ethnic History

First published in 1977, Portraits of White Racism advanced a distinctively sociological theory of racism. Based on five case histories, it critically assessed the prevailing social-psychological paradigm that equated racism with prejudice and provided an alternative interpretation. Racism, the book argued, could be understood as a culturally sanctioned strategy for defending social advantage based on race; it was not simply the product of psychological abnormalities. In this revised edition the theoretical perspective is updated, taking into account recent theorising in the sociology of racism.

Preface to the Second Edition
Preface to the First Edition
1. Introduction to the second edition
2. Prejudiced people are not the only racists in America
3. From theory to research and back again - a methodological discussion
4. 'I favour anything that doesn't affect me personally' Gene Danich
5. 'The trouble is all this suspicion between us' Darlene Kurier
6. 'If I could do it, why can't they do it?' Dick Wilson
7. 'Convincing people that this is a racist country is like selling soap - if agitators say it enough times people will believe it' John Harper
8. 'There wouldn't be any problems if people's heads were in the right place'
9. Toward a sociology of white racism
10. Epilogue: from Bensonhurst to Berkeley
11. Appendix: interview guide
12. Bibliography
13. Index.

Subject Areas: Ethnic studies [JFSL]