50 pages • 1 hour read
Whiteness of a Different Color: European Immigrants and the Alchemy of Race
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Book Brief
338
Book • Nonfiction
United States • 19th-20th century
1998
Adult
18+ years
Super Short Summary
Whiteness of a Different Color: European Immigrants and the Alchemy of Race by Matthew Frye Jacobson explores how various European immigrant groups in the United States, initially considered distinct "races," gradually became assimilated into the category of "white" Americans. The book delves into the historical evolution of racial categorization and identity, examining themes such as Shifting Constructions in Whiteness, Property-in-Whiteness, and The Construction of the White/Black Binary. The study underscores the profound material consequences of these shifts, affecting citizenship, privilege, and identity. The text examines systemic racism and refers to outdated racialized terms.
Informative
Contemplative
Reviews & Readership
789 ratings
Loved it
Mixed feelings
Not a fan
Review Roundup
Matthew Frye Jacobson's Whiteness of a Different Color receives praise for its thorough historical analysis of shifting racial identities and its incisive critique of race construction in America. Critics find it academically rigorous but some note it can be dense and challenging for general readers. Overall, it's an essential read for students of race and ethnicity.
Who Should Read Whiteness of a Different Color?
Readers of Whiteness of a Different Color by Matthew Frye Jacobson typically appreciate nuanced explorations of race, ethnicity, and American social history. Similar works include Noel Ignatiev's How the Irish Became White and Nell Irvin Painter's The History of White People. These readers often have an academic interest in critical race theory and immigration studies.
789 ratings
Loved it
Mixed feelings
Not a fan
Theodore Allen
Theodore Allen
An independent scholar known for his work on whiteness and white privilege, emphasizing class struggle and the concept of "white skin privilege" as a control mechanism by the ruling class.
David Roediger
David Roediger
Foundation Distinguished Professor of American Studies at the University of Kansas, noted for his focus on race, labor, and class, contributing significantly to the foundation of whiteness studies.
Nativists
Nativists
Individuals who prioritize native inhabitants over immigrants, often comprising those of British ancestry, though other groups have also supported nativist positions regarding the perceived threat of non-native populations.
Caucasian
Caucasian
A racial category originating from 18th and 19th-century academic theories, encompassing people from specific global regions; it was legally significant in U.S. citizenship cases but is now recognized as a social construct rather than a biological truth.
Free White Persons
Free White Persons
The only group eligible for U.S. citizenship under the Naturalization Act of 1790, a category that evolved significantly over time and initially lacked legal specification, allowing various European groups to access newfound privileges while facing discrimination.
338
Book • Nonfiction
United States • 19th-20th century
1998
Adult
18+ years
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