"I Don't See Color"

"Who is white, and why should we care? There was a time when the immigrants of New York CityĆs Lower East Sideůthe Irish, the Poles, the Italians, the Russian Jewsůwere not white, but now ôtheyö are. There was a time when the French-speaking working classes of Quebec were told to ôspeak white,ö that is, to speak English. Whiteness is an allegorical category before it is demographic. This volume gathers together some of the most influential scholars of privilege and marginalization in philosophy, sociology, economics, psychology, literature, and history to examine the idea of whiteness. Drawing from their diverse racial backgrounds and national origins, these scholars weave their theoretical insights into essays critically informed by personal narrative. This approach, known as ôbraided narrative,ö animates the work of award-winning author Eula Biss. Moved by BissĆs fresh and incisive analysis, the editors have assembled some of the most creative voices in this dialogue, coming together across the disciplines. Along with the editors, the contributors are Eduardo Bonilla-Silva, Nyla R. Branscombe, Drucilla Cornell, Lewis R. Gordon, Paget Henry, Ernest-Marie Mbonda, Peggy McIntosh, Mark McMorris, Marilyn Nissim-Sabat, Victor Ray, Lilia Moritz Schwarcz, Louise Seamster, Tracie L. Stewart, George Yancy, and Heidi A. Zetzer.