This was the invention of the white race, an act of cruel ingenuity that haunts america to this day. Allens twovolume the invention of the white race, republished by verso books in a new expanded edition, presents a fullscale challenge to what allen refers to as the great white assumption the unquestioning, indeed unthinking acceptance of the white identity of europeanamericans of all classes as a natural attribute rather. He stressed that the white race was invented as a ruling class social control formation. Bruce nelson, author of irish nationalists and the making of the irish race the invention of the white race is an important work for its meticulously researched materials and its insights into colonial history. But the relativity of race is shown in the sea change it entailed, whereby emigrating irish haters of racial oppression were transformed into white americans who. In this second volume of his acclaimed study theodore allen explores how the. Its themes and perspectives should be made available to all scholars. The invention of the white race second edition, twobook shrinkwrapped set edition.
It was republished by verso books in a new expanded edition in november 2012. Since that early invention, white privileges have enforced the myth of racial superiority, and that fact has been central to maintaining rulingclass domination over ordinary working people of all colors throughout american history. When the first africans arrived in virginia in 1619, there were no white people there. Sign me up to get more news about nonfiction books. The second volume in a monumental study of the origins of racism in the us. There are easier to read books on the creation of the white race for example audrey smedleys race in north america, but the invention of the white race two volumes is in my opinion, the classic, fundamental work on the subject. Dismantling that murderous myth will break down the backbone of a racist ideology that has kept a settler. The invention of the white race verso books by theodore w. The invention of the white race 1975 before publication of his seminal twovolume classic the invention of. The invention of the white race penguin random house.
The invention of the white race s contributions to the debates on notions of a white race are unquestionable and its relevance not simply for scholars of american history but for those interested in notions of race and class in any historical and geographical setting is beyond doubt. Origin of the idea of race by audrey smedley anthropology newsletter, november 1997. Perry provides a new introduction, a select bibliography and a study guide. The invention of the white race, volume 1 by theodore w. In this seminal twovolume work, the invention of the white race, theodore w.
Contemporary scholars agree that race was a recent invention and. On the steps of the lincoln memorial in 1963, marti. The invention of the white race, volume 1 verso books. The invention of the white race, volume 1 and millions of other books are available for amazon. The white race and white identity were invented, allen argued, by the ruling elite of virginia, in order to divide laboring people in the aftermath of bacons rebellion of 1676. Theodore william ted allen august 23, 1919 january 19, 2005 was an american intellectual, writer, and activist, best known for his pioneering writings since the 1960s on white skin privilege and the invention of the white race, particularly his seminal class struggle and the origin of racial slavery.
The invention of the white people was a blatant mechanism of power and domination. Allen tells the story of how americas ruling classes created the category of the white race as a means of social control. Readers of the first edition of the invention of the white race were startled by allen s bold assertion on the back cover. Allens acclaimed study has become indispensable in debates on the origins of racial oppression in america. Theodore william ted allen august 23, 1919 january 19, 2005 was an american.
When the first africans arrived in virginia in 1619. Read the fulltext online edition of the invention of the white race. Everyday low prices and free delivery on eligible orders. It destroys the widely held and totally wrong view that race determines character. Allens twovolume the invention of the white race, republished by verso books in a new expanded edition, presents a.