Race, racism, and reparations / J. Angelo Corlett.

Format:

Book

Author/Creator:

Corlett, J. Angelo, 1958-

Language:

English

Subjects (All):

Race.

Ethnic groups.

Racism.

Indians of North America--Social conditions.

Indians of North America.

African Americans--Social conditions.

African Americans.

Minorities--Government policy--United States.

Minorities.

African Americans--Reparations.

Minorities--Government policy.

United States.

Physical Description:

xi, 252 pages ; 24 cm

Place of Publication:

Ithaca : Cornell University Press, 2003.

Summary:

If affirmative action and other ethnicity-based social programs are justified, then J. Angelo Corlett believes it is important to come to an adequate understanding of the nature of ethnicity in general and ethnic group membership in particular. In "Race, Racism, and Reparations, Corlett reconceptualizes traditional ideas of race in terms of ethnicity. As he makes clear, the answers to the questions "what is a Native American?" or "What is a Latino/a?" have important implications for pubic policy, especially for those programs designed to address historic injustices and economic and social imbalances among different groups in our society. Having supplanted "race" with a well-defined concept of ethnicity, the author then argues for a notion of racism that must encompass not only racist beliefs but also racist actions, omissions, and attempted actions. His aim is to craft a definition of racism that will prove useful in legal and public policy contexts. Corlett places special emphasis on the broad questions of whether reparations for ethnic groups are desirable and what forms those reparations should take: land, money, social programs? He addresses the need for differential affirmative action programs and reparations policies--the experiences (and oppressors) of different ethnic groups vary greatly. Arguments for reparations to Native and African Americans are considered in light of a variety of objections that are or might be raised against them. Corlett articulates and critically analyzes a number of possible proposals for reparations.

Contents:

1 Race and Ethnicity 6

2 What Is Latino Identity? 17

3 Defending the Genealogical Concept of Latino Identity 44

4 What Is Racism? 62

5 Surviving Evil in the United States: African and Native Americans 94

6 Affirmative Action for Latinos? 115

7 Ethnic Identity and Public Policy 124

8 Reparations to Native Americans? 147

9 Reparations to African Americans? 191.

Notes:

Includes bibliographical references (pages 227-247) and index.

ISBN:

0801441609

0801488893

OCLC:

51965130