
The Wages of Whiteness
Race and the Making of the American Working Class
David R. Roediger(Author)
Verso Books (Publisher)
2nd Edition
Published on 17. January 1999
Book
Paperback/Softback
197 pages
978-1-85984-240-9 (ISBN)
Article exhausted; check for reprint
Description
Combining classical Marxism, psychoanalysis, and the new labor history pioneered by E. P. Thompson and Herbert Gutman, David Roediger's widely acclaimed book provides an original study of the formative years of working-class racism in the United States. This, he argues, cannot be explained simply with reference to economic advantage; rather, white working-class racism is underpinned by a complex series of psychological and ideological mechanisms that reinforce racial stereotypes, and thus help to forge the identities of white workers in opposition to Blacks.
In an afterword to this new edition, Roediger discusses recent studies of whiteness and the changing face of labor itself. He surveys criticism of his work, accepting many objections whilst challenging others, especially the view that the study of working class racism implies a rejection of Marxism and radical politics.
In an afterword to this new edition, Roediger discusses recent studies of whiteness and the changing face of labor itself. He surveys criticism of his work, accepting many objections whilst challenging others, especially the view that the study of working class racism implies a rejection of Marxism and radical politics.
Reviews / Votes
At last an American labor historian realizes that white workers have a racial identity that matters as race matters to workers who are not white. -- Nell Irwin Painter, Princeton University A timely and important intervention in the current debates over 'race' and ethnicity. -- Catherine Hall * New Left Review * Roediger's exciting new book makes us understand what it means to see oneself as white in a new way. An extremely important and insightful book. -- Lawrence Glickman * The Nation * The Celestine Prophecy of whiteness studies. * SPLN *More details
Series
Edition
2nd edition
Language
English
Place of publication
London
United Kingdom
Target group
College/higher education
Professional and scholarly
Dimensions
Height: 236 mm
Width: 155 mm
Thickness: 15 mm
Weight
256 gr
ISBN-13
978-1-85984-240-9 (9781859842409)
Copyright in bibliographic data and cover images is held by Nielsen Book Services Limited or by the publishers or by their respective licensors: all rights reserved.
Schweitzer Classification
Other editions
New editions

Book
07/2007
2nd Edition
Verso Books
€41.07
Article exhausted; check for reprint
Previous edition
Book
09/1991
Verso Books
€34.88
Article exhausted; check for reprint
Persons
David Roediger is widely credited as a founder of Critical Whiteness Studies. He writes as a historian and interdisciplinary scholar of race and labor in the US. Educated in public schools and in social movements, his major books include Wages of Whiteness, Seizing Freedom, and How Race Survived US History.