The author of the book unravels some important principles regarding California’s electoral laws for approximately fifty years ago. The scholar argues that citizens of California were tough on immigrants because they could pass laws that barred them from enjoying public services such as health care and free education (HoSang 11).
The author observes that undocumented immigrants could not access free services, apart from being harassed. Leaders in California went ahead to repeal programs that aimed at offering services to the public free of charge. The same policies had been passed as part of the affirmative action to end poverty and human suffering within the state. Academic sector was affected because bilingual education was done away with.
The researcher notes that the state was endowed with many civil rights movements, multicultural population and liberal political culture. The scholar wonders why leaders would decide to come up with repressive and discriminatory laws in a region that enjoyed a diverse populace. He finally concludes that the nation is not yet appreciative of cultural diversity because laws designed tend to favor the whites and not other races.
The author digs deeper to analyze how political ideologies shape policies in any given political arena. He posits that there is something more than a mere conservative-liberal divide. In this regard, the scholar notes that racial inequality is a matter of concern in the country even after the Civil War.
He asserts that measures taken by leaders in California show a proposition pertaining to race and racism. Through his analysis, it is clearly understood that racial distinctiveness, inequity and power shapes decision-making processes in any political system.
Though the writer presents American character as comprising of a single conflict, his works are valid in understanding American politics. Through review, it is established that blacks and other races have not enjoyed the spoils of society even after the war. The postwar analysis indicates that racism and ethnicity is a big problem to policy makers in America. Leaders are forced to bow down to the wishes of the majority, who are always the whites.
Other races are not taken care of because they do not have representatives in government to lobby for them. The scholar analyzes power in a different way. He underscores the fact that power is a relational concept as observed by other scholars. The whites dominate the society implying that other races exist at the mercy of the white race.
The black race is perpetually subordinated and subjugated because they are never allowed to own property. In this case, the whites are the bourgeoisies who own everything while the poor are the proletariat, who own their cheap labor. The rich individuals in society use their power and resources to obtain state power and authority.
Such powers are further utilized in effecting domination and control. Other races are left with no alternative other than working hard to fulfill their objectives. In industries, workers are alienated, exploited and undermined. These categories are usually races from inferior communities such as Africans and Asians. Inferior races are only allowed time for exercising animal related duties such as eating, sleeping and procreating. The white race, which is dominant, enjoys services such as recreation and travelling to various places.
The findings of HoSang are applicable in postwar America because other races continue suffering as the dominant races continue enjoying societal resources. Policies made are always favorable to the white race. For instance, the recent Arizona bill shows that states are still racially controlled. Immigration laws favor the whites, which give them an opportunity to exercise their democratic right of voting.
Works Cited
HoSang, Martinez. Racial Propositions: Ballot Initiatives and the Making of Postwar California. Berkeley: University of California Press, 2010.