Who Is White?: Latinos, Asians, and the New Black/Nonblack Divide

by George Yancey

Book Overview

Marshals evidence to show that the definition of who is white is changing, with nonblack minorities accepting the perspectives of the white majority group and, in turn, being assimilated. To understand the racial reality in the United States, the author demonstrates, it is essential to discard the traditional white/nonwhite dichotomy.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 1588263371
• ISBN13: 9781588263377
• Release Date: January 2003
• Publisher: Lynne Rienner Publishers
• Length: 230 Pages
• Weight: 0.75 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.6" x 5.9" x 9.1"

Customer Reviews

Some flawed info but still interesting

First Yancey's use of the term "Latino" as it relates to non-whites is innacurate. The Latins were the colonizers who converted the Indians to Christianity and Spanish. So the real Latinos are whites of European descent. Another thing, there is a lot of racism and colorism in the Latin cultures, they have a European standard of beauty in their media. The lighter you are, the better you are. I think it's even worse than in the American media. So the brown skin indigneous people are very much influenced by this as black Americans are. This may have a lot to do with their attitudes towards blacks. Another innacurate term Yancey uses are "4 races". I have never seen any scientific evidence that says there are 4 races of people. Just 3 and most recently I've heard about 2. Furthermore Hispanics come in all different colors just like my heritage which is French Creole, we range in colors and even have Spanish influence. As for what assimilation really means, Yancey is on point. But we must not forget how Anglos came to be the majority group. I believe people of Afrikan descent or black Americans are the biggest threat to the white supremacist system by them having a long history of being at war with one another. It also goes back to the double fear that was on the plantations, that the slaves would revolt. And that's the same fear today. Thta's why the Black Panthers were targeted and brought down. That's why white police and the government mainly target blacks. From what I've noticed no matter what non-black or non-white group does, blacks always remain the #1 burden to whites. Yancey could've gone more into detail about this as no other non-black group can compare their experience to that of blacks. I think blacks uphold the "one drop" rule just as much as whites. I guess both sides can use it to their advantage. But on the flip side whites have shown where even a person who may not be fully white but still with European blood can be considered white when that person has made an accomplishment (even if that person may have black blood in them), it may be seen as their supposed "proof" of inherited white superiority. I once read in my college Sociology book where the Japanese who contributed to white South Africa's economy were considered "white" whereas the Chinese who didn't were just considered Asian. In speaking as to how this relates to Yancey's thesis, I don't think all whites would approve of letting Asians and Hispanics be considered white like them especially when speaking of Neo-Nazi kind of whites. And they are on the rise. They may be less hostile with them but never date or marry them. But for less hostile whites who are not as race conscious, they may be more open-minded to Asians and Hispanics or even light skin blacks who don't present as much a threat. A man name Tim Wise wrote an article exposing the Asian "Model Minority" Myth. He also claims whites use this to further anti-black racism. Worth reading. Overall this is a ver