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Whiteness in America
Monica McDermott
polity
Copyright page
Copyright © Monica McDermott 2020
The right of Monica McDermott to be identified as Author of this Work has been asserted in accordance with the UK Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988.
First published in 2020 by Polity Press
Polity Press
65 Bridge Street
Cambridge CB2 1UR, UK
Polity Press
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Suite 300
Medford, MA 02155, USA
All rights reserved. Except for the quotation of short passages for the purpose of criticism and review, no part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system or transmitted, in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording or otherwise, without the prior permission of the publisher.
ISBN-13: 978-0-7456-7218-2
ISBN-13: 978-0-7456-7219-9(pb)
A catalogue record for this book is available from the British Library.
Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data
Names: McDermott, Monica, 1971- author.
Title: Whiteness in America / Monica McDermott.
Description: Cambridge, UK ; Medford, MA : Polity, 2020. | Includes bibliographical references and index. | Summary: “The invisible root of racial inequality”-- Provided by publisher.
Identifiers: LCCN 2020000124 (print) | LCCN 2020000125 (ebook) | ISBN 9780745672182 (hardback) | ISBN 9780745672199 (pb) | ISBN 9781509531189 (epub)
Subjects: LCSH: Whites--Race identity--United States. | United States--Race relations--Social aspects. | Race awareness--United States. | Equality--United States.
Classification: LCC E184.A1 M3475 2020 (print) | LCC E184.A1 (ebook) | DDC 305.802973--dc23
LC record available at https://lccn.loc.gov/2020000124
LC ebook record available at https://lccn.loc.gov/2020000125
Typeset in 11 on 13pt Sabon
by Fakenham Prepress Solutions, Fakenham, Norfolk NR21 8NL
Printed and bound in Great Britain by TJ International Limited
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Every effort has been made to trace all copyright holders, but if any have been overlooked the publisher will be pleased to include any necessary credits in any subsequent reprint or edition.
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Acknowledgments
This book reflects the many conversations I have had with colleagues and students over the years. In particular, the students in my seminar on whiteness at the University of Illinois communicated the importance of understanding the manifestations of white privilege in their lives. Additionally, Helen Marrow provided useful comments, as did Jonathan Skerrett and two anonymous reviewers. Finally, I thank Rebecca Sandefur for her detailed comments, support, and encouragement.
1 Introduction
When Americans think about race, “white” is often the furthest thing from their minds. To have a race is to be black, Asian, Latina/o or American Indian. Yet whiteness colors so much of social life in the United States, from the organization and maintenance of social structures to an individual’s sense of self. Why is there such a disconnect?
Before
