George Liptiz unflinchingly explores the challenges associated with racism in addition to attitudes related to white supremacy. In the second chapter of the book, the author argues that racism is a major distressing issue that exists in today’s society. He particularly points at the ravaging effects of racism in the United States. According to the author, the reflection and practice of racism are evident in both property owners and the color of the skin. Worse still, personal attitudes and interests also tend to illuminate tendencies towards racism (Lipitz 25).
When referring to the term ‘whiteness,’ Liptiz observers that the latter is an obstacle with numerous disadvantages that spreads across the provision of healthcare, housing, and employment for nonwhites and the minority groups. There are also asset accumulation impediments that negatively affect individuals who are not whites or belong to the minority segment of the US population.
Other major issues addressed by the author include the unearned rewards that are usually given to the white population and gross disparity when it comes to fair hearing in legal proceedings. Most importantly, Lipitz expresses how the aspects of ‘whiteness, above and beyond white or black binary’ work for native Americans, Latinos, and Asian Americans (33).
The second chapter of the book by Lipsitz explores the use and abuse of civil rights laws through the application of supremacy linked to whiteness. He delineates civil rights’ weaknesses that were mainly witnessed when segregation took place in schools coupled with rampant job discrimination, environmental racism, and deindustrialization (Lipitz 35). He further reflects the US culture and its centrality towards the concept of whiteness. Furthermore, Lipitz brings out the distinctions between black and white traditions and their effect on the quality of life among individuals and families across the United States.
At this point, it is worth to mention that in the United States, ‘whiteness’ is a problem that affects almost every person (Lipitz 43). The poor white people in the United States tend to suffer, just like other racial groups who do not fit in the middle class of the white population. According to the author, the problem of whiteness is evident in every aspect of life, including economic, cultural, and political spheres (Lipitz 383).
Lipitz supports his claims by other relevant literature. He cites Hughes, who claims that the white population perceives the black population as the main source of problems in the United States (128). Entitlement and supremacy of a group are largely ignored in the United States owing to the practice of racism. Lipitz takes the position that ‘whiteness’ is the role and power possessed by white people. It is vividly witnessed in the cultural and social aspects of life in America. In addition, races that are not regarded as ‘whites’ are often regarded and dismissed with a different attitude. The author describes this behavioral pattern as a ‘white attitude.’
As the author moves towards the conclusion of the second chapter regarding law and order, he critically discusses the aspects of resistance, refusal, renegotiation, and racial progress from an objective perspective. For example, civil rights law suffered a major blow before the close of the 1990s owing to the demeaning effects of racism. In fact, strict scrutiny of the black population was rife during the 1990s. Even though punitive laws were enacted to rectify the situation, whites are still more protected than the black and other minority groups.
Works Cited
Hughes, Glyn. “Racial Justice, Hegemony, and Bias Incidents in U.S. Higher Education.” Multicultural Perspectives 15.3 (2013): 126-132. Print.
Lipsitz, George. Possessive investment in whiteness. Philadelphia, PA: Temple University Press, 2009. Print.