The theory of white fragility is one of the most influential ideas to emerge in recent years on the topics of race, racism, and racial inequality. White fragility is defined as an unwillingness on the part of white people to engage in the difficult conversations necessary to address racial inequality. This "fragility" allegedly undermines the fight against racial inequality.

Despite its wide acclaim and rapid acceptance, the theory of white fragility has received no serious and sustained scrutiny. This book argues that the theory is flawed on numerous fronts. The theory functions as a divisive rhetorical device to shut down debate. It relies on the flawed premise of implicit bias. It posits a faulty way of understanding racism. It has serious methodological problems. It conflates objectivity and neutrality. It exploits narrative at the expense of facts. It distorts many of the ideas upon which the theory relies.

This book also offers a more constructive way to think about Whiteness, white privilege, and "white fragility," pointing us to a more promising vision for addressing racial inequality.



Autorentext

By Jonathan D. Church



Inhalt

Acknowledgements

Introduction

Chapter 1: White Fragility Is a Trap

Transforming Education into Indoctrination

Chapter 2: Behind the Curve on Implicit Bias

The Implicit Bias Paradigm

It Is Not Clear What Implicit Bias Is

It Is Not Clear What the Implicit Association Test (IAT) Measures

IAT Results May Reflect Base Rates Rather than Bias

Implicit Bias Does Not Reliably Predict Behavior

Implicit Bias Training Has Not Been Shown to Work

Implicit Bias Does Not Currently Tell Us Much about Racism

Chapter 3: The Wrong Way to Think About Racism

The Reification of Whiteness

Redefining Racism The Fallacy of Redefining Racism Conflating Racism with the Legacy of Racism

Chapter 4: Flawed Methodology

Conflating Objectivity and Neutrality

Why Is Objectivity Distrusted?

The Vital Importance of Objectivity

What Is Objective Measurement?

Chapter 5: Exploiting Narratives at the Expense of Facts

What Can A Jeopardy! Episode Tell Us About White Racial Illiteracy?

The Jackie Robinson Story

U.S. Economic History and the Mexican American War

Chapter 6: Distorting the Enlightenment and Critical Theory

What Does Critical Theory Have to Do with Social Justice?

The Critique of Reason

The Eclipse of Reason

Critical Theory Sought to Rescue the Enlightenment, Not Abandon It

Critical Theory Promotes Rational Autonomy

Chapter 7: Running Afoul of Reason and Logic

Correlation and Causation

The Genetic Fallacy

Other Logical Fallacies

Chapter 8: Sermonizing, Not Scholarship

Theory

A Case Study: The Significance of Black Names

Don't Ask Questions. Liberate Yourself!

Chapter 9: A Rhetorical Weapon for Activist Bullies

A Case Study: Micro-aggressions

Rhetorical Bullying Tactic

Chapter 10: A Better Way to Think About Whiteness and White Privilege

The Theory of Whiteness and White Privilege

White Privilege: A Concept in Need of Refinement

Privileges Worth Having Are Public Goods

Club Goods That Should Be Public Goods

Privileges Not Worth Having Are Public Bads

Racial Harms and Efficient Precaution

Reparations and The Political Coase Theorem

White Fragility Theory Undermines the Pursuit of Racial Justice

A Case Study: Preferential versus Developmental Affirmative Action

White Fragility Theory Exacerbates Social Frictions

Conclusion

Titel
Reinventing Racism
Untertitel
Why "White Fragility" Is the Wrong Way to Think About Racial Inequality
EAN
9781475858198
Format
E-Book (epub)
Veröffentlichung
03.12.2020
Digitaler Kopierschutz
Adobe-DRM
Dateigrösse
0.87 MB
Anzahl Seiten
250