When affirmative action was white by ira katznelson. Sander, a systemic analysis of affirmative action in american law schools, 57 stan. The uncomfortable truth about affirmative action and asian. Thus, often without realizing it, the united states has practiced what, in effect, was white affirmative action on a highly generous and widespread basis, followed by a much more. When affirmative action was white by ira katznelson ties for middleclass blacks seeking access to higher education and toptier jobs. An untold history of racial inequality in twentiethcentury america kindle edition by katznelson, ira.
Ira katznelson author of when affirmative action was white. Is affirmative action responsible for the achievement gap. See ira katznelson, when affirmative action was white. According to a 2014 harvard university study, 64 percent of young white people have negative feelings about affirmative action, so we spoke with dwight p. Barnes, is affirmative action responsible for the achievement gap between black and white law students. In the realm of affirmative action, books by ira katznelson and nancy maclean are the most recent additions to a list long dominated by traditional social scientists. Ira katznelson is the author of when affirmative action was white 4. Holzer georgetown public policy institute urban institute david neumark public policy institute of california university of california at irvine nber iza november 2005 this paper has been prepared for the journal of policy. The contentious nature of the debate reflects the deep ideological and political divisions among its participants. In addition to social security, the national industrial recovery act nira did. The history and logic of affirmative action and alternatives. Court of appeals didnt properly apply strict scrutiny of the university of texass affirmative action process. When affirmative action was white an untold history of racial inequality in twentiethcentury america. Affirmative action for whites was embodied in the abolition of european indentured servitude.
This sense of grievance lies behind the justice departments recent memo seeking lawyers. An untold history of racial inequality in twentiethcentury america ira katznelson, author. Just finished an outstanding book by ira katznelson on the untold history of racial inequality in america. Books by ira katznelson author of when affirmative action. Jeff sessions told the senate judiciary committee 20 years ago that affirmative action irritated people he meant white people because it could cause them to lose opportunities simply because of their race.
Puts the whole concept of affirmative action in historical context compared to all the times when government action was essentially an economic launching pad for white people at the expense of black americans. Having served as president of the american political science association, he is a member of the academy of arts and sciences and the american philosophical society. Katznelson is a professor of political science and history at columbia university, president of the social science research council and the author of. During that period, us inequality plunged to its lowest level ever, before reversing. Many middleclass white people, especially those of us from the suburbs, like to think that we got to where we are today by virtue of our merit hard work, intelligence, pluck, and maybe a little luck.
Opinion making affirmative action white again the new. When affirmative action was white ira katznelson pdf an. Why are all the black kids sitting together in the cafeteria. The paper also sketches the accountability, monitoring and reporting responsibilities of various players within affirmative action programmes. The almost exclusively white targeted nature of this extensive federal legislation has largely been ignored by policy analysts, just as it was by lyndon johnson. Multiracial identity and affirmative action nancy leong i. Administered in discriminatory ways, new deal programs deliberately excluded various categories of people working as maids, farmers, and migrant workers.
Table of contents for when affirmative action was white. Ira katznelson has 28 books on goodreads with 191 ratings. Read when affirmative action was white pdf an untold history of racial inequality in twentiethcentury america by ira katznelson w. Everything white people think about affirmative action is. When affirmative action was white demonstrates that all the key programs passed during the new deal and fair deal era of the 1930s and 1940s were created in a deeply discriminatory manner. Everyday low prices and free delivery on eligible orders. White people in boston protesting the courtordered busing of black students to white schools in 1975. For whites only a long history of affirmative action.
Who benefits from affirmative action and race and gender consciousness. He is also the author of fear itself and when affirmative action was white. Katznelson summary of when affirmative action was white. The nira included section 7a, which acknowledged the right of workers. What is affirmative action and is it discrimination. Katznelsons explosive analysis provides us with a new and painful understanding of how politics and race intersect. A psychologist explains the development of racial identity by beverly daniel tatum part iii, understanding whiteness in a white context, chapter 7, white identity and affirmative action summary and analysis. When affirmative action was white accurately explains the historic amnesia america has when debating the topic of affirmative action.
Making affirmative action white again history news network. A groundbreaking work that exposes the twisted origins of affirmative action. Dubois, writing in 1935 at the height of the new deal. In when affirmative action was white, ira katznelson contends that the modern economic disparities between black and white americans were fueled more by new deal era policies than by the long standing american tradition of white supremacy. The author artfully explains that affirmative action did not just begin in the late 60s and 70s but decades before during the new deal era. This book is part of the positions series of books published by routledge, which interrogate the intersections of education, politics, and culture. However, the heated affirmative action debate routinely. Part iii, understanding whiteness in a white context. Ira katznelson, the ruggles professor of political science and history at columbia university, enters this fray with a provocative new book, when affirmative action was white, which seeks to. The white paper on affirmative action in the public service will also be available in south sotho, zulu, tsonga and afrikaans on the internet at. When affirmative action was white, by ira katznelson economic historians often refer to the period from world war ii to the mid 1970s as the great compression. Who benefits from affirmative action and race and gender.
First, katznelson s argument would be more compelling with a better exposition of how new deal and fair deal programs secured the social wellbeing of white ethnic groups. Affirmative action helped women break through the ageold prejudicial barriers that kept them out of contention for highlevel jobs in business and the professions. Download it once and read it on your kindle device, pc, phones or tablets. Katznelsons basic argument is that the new deal coalition inscribed racial inequality at the very heart of the american welfare state. An untold history of racial inequality in twentiethcentury america new york. Start with pc discussion, wieseltierchait exchange. An extension of affirmative action, in the authors mind, would end the need for statesponsored compensation within a generation and create a truly colorblind society. Why america still needs affirmative action the new yorker. The ny times reflexively mischaracterized justice dept.
White privilege and affirmative action by sylvia a. Use features like bookmarks, note taking and highlighting while reading when affirmative action was white. When affirmative action was white brown university. Contentious ideas and controversial practices john michael eden and john paul ryan. Officials at the university note, too, that the competition for admissions has become so intense that unless affirmative action is pursued, almost no nonwhite students would be enrolled and. Andersons book is an important addition to this literature. Law as we approach the new century, the nation is at a critical juncture with respect to race relations and the law. Ira katznelson born 1944 is an american political scientist and historian, noted for his research on the liberal state, inequality, social knowledge, and institutions, primarily focused on the united states. When affirmative action was white ira katznelson w. Tim wise, an unflagging advocate for dismantling racism, pumps up the volume of this discussion and does not pull any punches in affirmative action. An untold history of racial inequality in twentiethcentury america new ed by ira katznelson isbn. Liberals cant handle the asian factor in affirmative action. An untold history of racial inequality in twentiethcentury america.
Those who oppose affirmative action should get it and see who has really benefitted from the new deal, the fair deal, social security and the gi bill after wwii. When affirmative action was white offers a worthwhile contribution to the debate over affirmative action, but not without shortcomings. An untold history of racial inequality in twentiethcentury america ebook written by ira katznelson. Affirmative action and the constitution icons download. As for the complaints of reverse discrimination, there is still so much natural bias in favor of white males that they hardly suffer under affirmative action. While many whites apparently are convinced that the notion originated with affirmative action programs, intended to expand opportunities for historically marginalized people of color, racial preference has actually had a long and very white history. When affirmative action was white the new deal policies and postwar gi bill, instead of leveling the economic playing field, actually widened the gap between white and black americans. Ira katznelson is columbia universitys ruggles professor of political science and history. An untold history of racial inequality in one can speculate that ira katznelson has been listening to some version of this.
Ira katznelson, the ruggles professor of political science and history at columbia university, enters this fray with a provocative new book, when. For the past two decades affirmative action has been the. An untold history of racial inequality in twentiethcentury. Download for offline reading, highlight, bookmark or take notes while you read when affirmative action was white. From university admissions offices to the board rooms of corporate america, few questions are as subject to dissent and heated discussion as affirmative action. White ppl claims that it somehow makes life harder for them is totally wrong. Katznelson doesnt discuss the politics of affirmative action today or tomorrow, the books major flaw, an absence of practical political science. Whether a sufficient public purpose could be found in such wider applications is moot, but it is doubtful congress would sanction or fund such programmes.