What has it meant to be Jewish in a nation preoccupied with the categories of black and white? The Price of Whiteness documents the uneasy place Jews have held in America's racial culture since the late nineteenth century. The book traces Jews' often tumultuous encounter with race from the 1870s through World War II; when they became vested as part of America's white mainstream and abandoned the practice of describing themselves in racial terms. American Jewish history is often told as a story of quick and successful adaptation; but Goldstein demonstrates how the process of identifying as white Americans was an ambivalent one; filled with hard choices and conflicting emotions for Jewish immigrants and their children. Jews enjoyed a much greater level of social inclusion than African Americans; but their membership in white America was frequently made contingent on their conformity to prevailing racial mores and on the eradication of their perceived racial distinctiveness. While Jews consistently sought acceptance as whites; their tendency to express their own group bonds through the language of "race" led to deep misgivings about what was required of them. Today; despite the great success Jews enjoy in the United States; they still struggle with the constraints of America's black-white dichotomy. The Price of Whiteness concludes that while Jews' status as white has opened many doors for them; it has also placed limits on their ability to assert themselves as a group apart.
#889637 in Books 2008-03-23Original language:EnglishPDF # 1 .84 x 5.75 x 8.77l; .84 #File Name: 0691120455200 pages
Review
0 of 0 people found the following review helpful. A philosophical view into Islam PoliticsBy Jeyner ArangoAlthough I'am a newbie in Islamic history and philosophy; the book overall becomes quite interesting describing some issues on current Middle East Governments and linking their failures to problems arising from the fall of the Ottoman Empire and the duality in trying to introduce western democracy and keeping long standing Sharia tradition.The basic premise behind Noah Feldman diagnostic of the current failure of most Islamic States is trying "to establish themselves as legal states in the twin senses of being justified by law and governing through it".In summary he basically states that the failure of current governments was the loss of checks and balances given by Scholars through the codification of the law and its interpretation into written codes.While he extends quite on the reasons behind the failure; I feel he doesnt quite elaborates much into the possible ways to the formation of a new Islamic Model State. The main proposition lays of the re-establishment of the legislature and the interpretation of it through the scholars and the judges.The book definitely is thought-provoking and inspiring in tryind to find a new model for development that is compatible with democracy; tradition and theology.36 of 38 people found the following review helpful. A smart and balanced look at the history of the shari'aBy Lee L.Before I started reading through The Fall and Rise of the Islamic State; tried to also read through several reviews of the book to get a sense of what criticisms were out there. The handful of reviews on tended to be negative and I made note of the criticisms levied against Feldman. After reading the book; I can't help but notice that Feldman is being criticized for things he didn't say or that the main point of the book is being misrepresented (at least by reviewers here).First and foremost; this is a book about the history of shari'a law. The book is comprised of three parts; dealing with the heyday of shari'a law; its decline during and after the late Ottoman period; and prospects for the future. A theme that runs through the book is that when the scholarly class successfully acted as keepers of the shari'a; they provided an important check to executive power. Over time; due to the effects of reforms and the integration of the scholarly class into the ruling executive's regime; unbridled and unchecked executive power became the norm. The shari'a as a result; became less a force for legitimate rule; and more of a specialized area dealing with family/civil matters.The main premise of the book is not that most people in the Middle East want a return to shari'a law. Even this is a problematic basis for attacking Feldman here because he clearly distinguishes between what the shari'a was during its time of prominence; and what most people think of when they hear the word. Feldman also points out that what most modern Islamist parties aren't actually calling for the shari'a to be implemented in its traditional sense; but a system where scholars have a more subjugated role. Most important figures in Sunni Islamist parties aren't trained religious scholars and it is unlikely that they would want a system in place where trained scholars have a check against their power. The most prescient point in all of this is that these Islamist parties must be given the chance to come to power and fail before their appeal diminishes.Criticizing Feldman for producing a short book is also a relatively pointless exercise here. He in no way claims to definitively tackle this issue in its entirety. Rather; the book provides an excellent starting point for a complex subject. No one book could adequately handle the magnitude of the origins; evolution; and future of the shari'a; but Feldman gives us a great place to start.0 of 0 people found the following review helpful. Four StarsBy Ms. P-GResourceful and comprehensive guide.
