White Privilege: The Persistence of Racial Hierarchy in a Culture of Denial approaches the discussion of racism by focusing on majority group advantage, or white privilege. The book explores the construct of race and the definition of white privilege and then examines the ways in which white privilege manifests in economy, education, criminal justice, and especially within media and pop culture.
The book balances scholarly research on racial discrimination and disparity with narratives that provide the reader with highly personal accounts of injustice. Dedicated chapters demonstrate how microaggressions emerge in unexpected places and situations, as well as how they contribute to the development and maintenance of institutional racism. Intersectionality sections throughout the book explore how class, gender, and sexual orientation shape how white privilege is experienced by individuals. Finally, the text offers a myriad of strategies and approaches to end injustice and cultivate anti-racist practices.
The revised first edition features a new final chapter, which brings the text's content up to date and addresses healthcare and white privilege; #BlackLivesMatter, George Floyd, Breonna Taylor, and justice; implicit bias and systemic racism; white terrorism; COVID-19 and economic sexism; and anti-Asian violence.
White Privilege is an ideal supplementary resource for courses on race, diversity, and social inequality.
Industry Reviews
A much-needed text on U.S. racism in the 21st century! Teacher-scholars McTaggart and O'Brien focus on whites' role in creating and maintaining systemic racism, with forthright honesty and accuracy in assessing white privilege and power in major institutions from the economy to pop culture. Vital too is their rare attention to practical strategies for individuals and groups challenging white racism." -Joe Feagin, Distinguished Professor, Texas A&M University, Author of Racist America (Routledge 2019)
"White Privilege is one of the best textbooks on race I have read in a long time. It is a well-written, well-documented, theoretically-driven, and empirically-grounded book that addresses many fundamental racial issues in America. I look forward to using it in my classes." -Eduardo Bonilla-Silva, James B. Duke Professor of Sociology, Duke University, Author of Racism without Racists