Racism Without Racists: Color-Blind Racism and the Persistence of Racial Inequality in the United States

Rating:
Summary: Some good points but...reverse discrimination
Review: Bonilla-Silva, although he brings up good points (the fact that color-blind racism is the dominant ideology) his arguments are one sided. For example: he believes that blacks who claim that they didn't get a job because of their color are justified and valid. However, when whites claim that they didn't get a job because of a minority (as a result of affirmative action), that whites use this storyline so that they never have to believe that they weren't qualified for a job or promotion. Also, Bonilla-Silva states that if a white person were more qualified than a minority and still lost the job over a minority, he suggests that perhaps the white applicant didn't interview well, but doesn't make the same excuses for the black applicant. Basically he's saying that if a black person doesn't get a job then it's because of discrimination no matter what. Bonilla-Silva is completely one-sided.

He completely rebukes reverse discrimination. His studies which are supposed to prove his theories are also weak. He interviewed many whites about their views on blacks but he only interviewed a handful of blacks about their views on whites. I would have felt better about the book if he admitted to being as racist as he claims that whites are.

Rating:
Summary: A powerful, clearly written and argued book
Review: This is a powerful, clearly written and argued book on the nature of racism in contemporary America! I have not read many other books by social scientists that cut through the chase and tell it as it is. His claim, that there is a new game in town (he labels it "color-blind racism"), is backed up by interviews with young and old Americans. I STRONGLY endorse this book and will check out all the other books written by this scholar who represents a refreshing voice in the usually boring, pompous,
and unengaged work of academics in the USA.

Rating:
Summary: A powerful, clearly written and argued book
Review: This is a powerful, clearly written and argued book on the nature of racism in contemporary America! I have not read many other books by social scientists that cut through the chase and tell it as it is. His claim, that there is a new game in town (he labels it "color-blind racism"), is backed up by interviews with young and old Americans. I STRONGLY endorse this book and will check out all the other books written by this scholar who represents a refreshing voice in the usually boring, pompous, and unengaged work of academics in the USA.