This book looks beyond the headlines to uncover the controversial history of California's ballot measures over the past fifty years. As the rest of the U.S. watched; California voters banned public services for undocumented immigrants; repealed public affirmative action programs; and outlawed bilingual education; among other measures. Why did a state with a liberal political culture; an increasingly diverse populace; and a well-organized civil rights leadership roll back civil rights and anti-discrimination gains? Daniel Martinez HoSang finds that; contrary to popular perception; this phenomenon does not represent a new wave of "color-blind" policies; nor is a triumph of racial conservatism. Instead; in a book that goes beyond the conservative-liberal divide; HoSang uncovers surprising connections between the right and left that reveal how racial inequality has endured. Arguing that each of these measures was a proposition about the meaning of race and racism; his deft; convincing analysis ultimately recasts our understanding of the production of racial identity; inequality; and power in the postwar era.
#1889840 in Books 2007-11-13 2007-11-13Original language:EnglishPDF # 1 9.00 x .50 x 6.00l; .70 #File Name: 0520252284218 pages
Review
3 of 3 people found the following review helpful. A Lot of Good InformationBy MorkThis is a well-researched book which I have found helpful in my own research. Madsen has always had great attention to detail. The only criticism I have is that; at times; he seems to be far more critical of the West than of the East which has its own; albeit different; set of civil society problems. Still; a good read with a lot of interesting information.
