White Rage

Publisher's Summary

National Book Critics Circle Award winner, Criticism, 2016.

As Ferguson, Missouri, erupted in August 2014, and media commentators across the ideological spectrum referred to the angry response of African Americans as 'black rage', historian Carol Anderson wrote a remarkable op-ed in the Washington Post showing that this was, instead, 'white rage at work. With so much attention on the flames,' she wrote, 'everyone had ignored the kindling.' 

Since 1865 and the passage of the Thirteenth Amendment, every time African Americans have made advances towards full participation in our democracy, white reaction has fueled a deliberate and relentless rollback of their gains. The end of the Civil War and Reconstruction was greeted with the Black Codes and Jim Crow; the Supreme Court's landmark 1954 Brown v. Board of Education decision was met with the shutting down of public schools throughout the South while taxpayer dollars financed segregated white private schools; the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and Voting Rights Act of 1965 triggered a coded but powerful response, the so-called Southern Strategy and the War on Drugs that disenfranchised millions of African Americans while propelling presidents Nixon and Reagan into the White House. 

Carefully linking these and other historical flashpoints when social progress for African Americans was countered by deliberate and cleverly crafted opposition, Anderson pulls back the veil that has long covered actions made in the name of protecting democracy, fiscal responsibility, or protection against fraud, rendering visible the long lineage of white rage. 

Compelling and dramatic in the unimpeachable history it relates, White Rage will add an important new dimension to the national conversation about race in America. 

©2016 Carol Anderson (P)2016 Audible, Ltd

Critic Reviews

"Narrator Pamela Gibson perfectly conveys the insightful research and writing in this book about civil rights in the U.S. by an Emory University historian. Anderson contends that when African-Americans make even the slightest progress, a subtle, almost invisible, white rage in the form of opposition reverses what little progress has been made. An example is the current suppression of black votes under the guise of voter fraud prevention. Gibson's delivery registers rage and compassion where appropriate. No one - from Lincoln to Trump - escapes criticism. Hard truths and supporting citations are clearly stated, leaving no confusion for listeners. Also, Gibson ably presents Anderson's unexpected humor, for example, when she talks about the current paralysis of the U.S. Senate." ( AudioFile magazine)

Good History, Was Hoping For More Insight

Any additional comments?

I've been on a bit of a binge with "White Trash", "Hillbilly Elegy", "American Maelstrom", "Dog Whistle Politics" and "The End of White Christian America". In part to try and understand how poor working class (OK white) people are drawn to the fringe of right wing politics and is there hope for my Republican party.

Although the author gives an excellent chronology of black oppression through politics, I was looking for more insight into the psychological/sociological aspects. They were there, I just wanted more.

I am glad I read it but, I'll have to keep on searching.

72 of 83 people found this review helpful

Excellent history, modern analysis less so

This book is written in a clear and engaging style, and feels a bit like an abbreviated tour through race relations in the United States. A good primer for those wanting a roadmap of the fraught history of government, whites, and minorities (with the bulk focused on black Americans), outlining the mutation of slavery into Jim Crow into less obvious, but still insidious, institutional and legal aspects that act as limits to full citizenship to this day. My biggest complaint comes as Anderson enters the last decade or two. Here, she does a little less explanation and sometimes strays into a biased view of the Obama presidency, at times feeling less academic than anecdotal, with a failure to turn a turn a critical eye towards or to discuss any nuances in some of the recent permutations of racism and white privilege. Despite these shortcomings, the book is quite good overall, though at turns horrifying and rage inducing, and worth the time for those that need a refresher in American history or those who want a concise accounting of America's institutional, legal, and cultural racism.

5 of 5 people found this review helpful

Eye Opening

As a white, well read & active progressive, I thought I had a good sense of the historical experience of African Americans in the US. This book was like a body blow from a linebacker, forcing me to acknowledge the constant, consistent drumbeat of oppression that began 350 years ago & continues today via both "dog whistles" AND bullhorns-- subtle and not so subtle but always with the aim to quiet, disenfranchise & use as fodder black Americans to maintain white-"conservative"- dominance. The research is in depth, non-reactionary or preachy but with the confident power of an army of facts allowing no wiggle room for "alternative facts." Thank you Carol Anderson-- as hard as it was for me to read, my guess is it was 100 times more emotionally brutal for you to write.

41 of 50 people found this review helpful

good listen

The narration in this book was very good, although there seemed to be some minor editing errors. Overall the messages within the book were very well presented. There were times, however, that the author came off as a little paranoid and may have over stated certain "truths". Additionally, some facts were presented without appropriate context which made America seem to be even more racist than it already is/was. Black triumphs, such as supreme court appointments, were not mentioned as they did not build the author's case. The author does, however, bring up topics and events that aren't typically taught in schools which helped to frame her overall message, and I found these pieces of information incredibly interesting. I chose to listen to this book to gain perspective on the racial tensions within our country today, and I was not disappointed. If that is your aim, then this book is well worth the listen.

3 of 3 people found this review helpful

Excellent analysis!

Ms Anderson provides us with an
historical overview and excellent analysis of the real problem plaguing this country:"White Rage"

3 of 3 people found this review helpful

great!

if you have ever wondered how 2 plus 2 equals institutionalized racism...please read this book. it does an amazing job at breaking down the details that people like to gloss over when thinking about racism and injustice.

9 of 11 people found this review helpful

Why don't I know about this ?

I am black and I knew nothing about the exploits of Andrew Johnson , the black codes , CCA and many of the historical facts about how the American government was responsible for crafting racism and the denigration of blacks. I think we need to explore why are whites so afraid of blacks being able to live normal lives just like them.

28 of 36 people found this review helpful

Everyone should read this book!!!!

Well written history of blacks in America.
The history we should have been taught in school.

8 of 10 people found this review helpful

Heartbreaking summary of 1863 to now

Every time there is an advancement by Black Americans, there is a violent, political, and normalized reaction by the white hegemony. This book unwinds its thesis through critical moments and movements in Black history, and their repercussions. The author brings passion and a little bitterness to the argument. I have trouble arguing against the tone-it is justified. I am white, I found the book illustrative and informative of events glossed over in my high school history courses.

8 of 10 people found this review helpful

The Game Continues

it's time for ALL Americans to stand up against these types of injustices and speak with one voice.

5 of 6 people found this review helpful

Sad story but so needs to be told

I must read for all those who love humanity and want to see racial discrimination and disparities disappear. We have an opptune moment to save the soul of humanity let us grasp it work for it and encourage our children ro hope for this is bigger than all of us. Make a better heal breakwn hearts and minds. University live always. May god bless us all. Amen

2 of 2 people found this review helpful

Eye opening, shocking, saddening.

Leaves a bitter taste when you hear about the way American leaders have treated the poorest in society. If they had only treated and educated the people that they disenfranchised then America could have been great again.

Worthy inclusion to my audio collection.

1 of 1 people found this review helpful

Raw truth

I was challenged by some of the content of this book, but felt it was necessary to understand what is happening in this world today between cultural groups & communities of people. As a lecturer I've found students roll their eyes when history is mentioned. But without comprehending history, engagement with current day stories or News headlines are activities based out of context, causing reactions to be influenced by ignorance as they have no foundation. I am not attempting to say this book holds all the answers, No. Its a very good start. A worthwhile & insightful read.

An important book for white people to read, with some problems

This book traces racial discrimination in the US. It is structured in a simple chronology starting in the 1800s and only approaching something remotely modern in the last two chapters.

Nobody can fault the meticulous research and it is certainly written in an accessible way. As a white male listener in the U.K., I found the history very interesting and easy to follow.

I would have like to have seen Anderson structure the book more around themes, rather than a chronology. I found myself asking "somewhat?" And "what does it all mean?" as Anderson moves speedily through history, giving yet another example of a discriminatory policy making or another shocking racist attack.

As another reviewer states, it is only in the last two chapters where we eventually hit modern times with an examination of the Obama legacy and brings together some of the themes. These are by far the most informative chapters.

I found the performance to be rather flat, as if the presenter was reading from a script and not particularly engaged with the book.

Those looking for a explanation of the rise of Trump will need to look elsewhere.

Stick with it for the closing chapters remarks.

I found the book a bit boring with all the legal facts used as historical evidence and records. I cannot however dismiss their importance as it lays the foundation and evidence of the racial divide and it's resulting outcome. I also love the fact that the constitution and legal proceedings are used as the basis for the book as they are more stringent evidence that stand the test of time.