WHAT DOES IT MEAN TO BE WHITE IN AMERICA? BREAKING THE WHITE CODE OF SILENCE; A COLLECTION OF PERSONAL NARRATIVES; is a collection that asks just that. While the literature on whiteness has long been dominated by an academic point of view; editors Gabrielle David and Sean Frederick Forbes came to the realization that there was an unmet need for an anthology of personal narratives about race and culture from the perspective of white Americans. In this conception process; WHAT DOES IT MEAN TO BE WHITE IN AMERICA? was born. The first of its kind; this collection of 82 personal narratives reflects a vibrant range of stories from white Americans who speak frankly and openly about race; not only as it applies to people of color; but as it applies to themselves. In answering the question; some may offer viewpoints one may not necessarily agree with; but nevertheless; it is clear that each contributor is committed to answering it as honestly as possible. With an introduction by racial justice educator and writer; Debby Irving; and an afterword by award-winning poet; author and scholar; Tara Betts; the purpose of WHAT DOES IT MEAN TO BE WHITE IN AMERICA? is to; as Irving points out in her introduction; break the code of silence so that we can engage in frank conversations about race. An invaluable starting point that includes a glossary and a bibliography of suggested reading; WHAT DOES IT MEAN TO BE WHITE IN AMERICA? is highly recommended for students; teachers and anyone else interested in seeking a deeper and richer understanding of race in America. Visit the book's website at whiteinamerica.org to learn more about the book and the contributors.
#1315647 in Books 2011-08-23Original language:EnglishPDF # 1 8.20 x .90 x 5.50l; .95 #File Name: 1936365383300 pages
Review
3 of 4 people found the following review helpful. Mac S.By Mac S.The narratives in Patrio Acts deal with one fundamental question: what makes an American? Can Americans wear turbans? Can they pray in public? The narrators in this book are being stripped of their Americanism (which is different than citizenship) and in America; that means they are being stripped of their humanity. I wonder if this tendency to equate Americanism with basic humanity is unique to the US or if other countries do the same. A trademark of American patriotism is to equate America with freedom and freedom with one's basic rights. But this belief; the supreme confidence American's have in this idea; relies on that freedom being inseparable from their person and not just from the government. So how do people's freedom get stripped from them so easily in the United States? How is it so easy to draw lines between the Americans that are "American" and the Americans who can be cast out; disavowed; and persecuted? For me; this is the crux of Patriot Acts. The stories are individually striking; heartbreaking; infuriating; and empowering. Together; they depict a strong nation -- that is out of reach for many. Stories like Rana's story show how much recourse there is for action in the government and in nonprofits; however getting to them in any meaningful way appears to be often impossible.Perhaps the most painful accounts in Patriot Acts; for me; were the stories of bullying in schools. They depict so clearly the role of our ignorance as a nation and as individuals. It is both heartbreaking and enraging that teachers; parents; and schools can be the main persecutors in so many of these stories. The stories of Rana and Gurwinder really drove the cultural ignorance home; but also my own ignorance: I reflected on the anger of my muslim or Sikh friends and how naive I was of what they were facing from the rest of the country; even as they were facing persecution in other parts of the world. I'm so glad to have read this book.2 of 3 people found the following review helpful. Intolerance and Cruelty in the Aftermath of a DisasterBy Nara B.Reading Patriot Acts so many years after the events of 9/11 was an awakening not to be overlooked. It's alarmingly easy to forget things you were hardly aware of in the first place: I was young and far-removed from most of the events; and thus protected from the outrageous prejudice that many of my peers had to face. The stories of post-9/11 injustice exposed by this book from the awesome series Voice of Witness are an important reality check for anyone who has the privilege of taking the discriminatory tendencies of this country lightlyThe stories are complex; but the discrimination is simple. Rooted in fear; and exacerbated by media; the paranoia and ill-conceived quest for vengeance that followed 9/11 made life a living hell for ordinary people; from young children to college students to trusted community members. Turbans and hijabs become probable cause; classrooms become centers of intolerance; and basic rights are thrown out the window.The book does an excellent job of demonstrating the wide range of differences among a group of narrators erroneously lumped together by society as "dangerous." Yet at the same time; the commonalities are difficult to ignore- I was shocked and saddened by the pervasiveness of discrimination and ignorance the narrators faced and continue to face.To be entirely honest; by the end of this book the individuals I find myself fearing most are white men in suits.2 of 3 people found the following review helpful. An Essential Part of Our 9/11 NarrativeBy C. CrowePatriot Acts documents the experiences of Arab and Muslim Americans - or any one who might vaguely pass for one - after 9/11. Some of the stories sound familiar - discrimination in an airport - while others - the sudden and unexplained imprisonment of sixteen-year-old Adama Bah - are shocking. Individual prejudice and institutionalized discrimination are both justified by a sometimes subtle and sometimes not de-Americanizing; and therefore dehumanizing; of the narrators. But after listening to their stories - in which a sense of dignity; strength; and occasionally even humor prevail - the humanity of these people; and this book; cannot be denied.
