Beyond White Ethnicity Developing a Sociological Understanding of Native American Identity Reclamation

by Fitzgerald, Kathleen J.

• ISBN13: 9780739113943
• ISBN10: 0739113941
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 2007-09-26
• Publisher: Lexington Books

Summary

Through qualitative analysis of individuals, Kathleen J. Fitzgerald studies the social construction of racial and ethnic identity in Beyond White Ethnicity. Fitzgerald focuses on Native Americans who, despite a previously unacknowledged and uncelebrated background, are embracing and reclaiming their heritage in their everyday lives. Focusing on the purpose, process, and problems of this reclamation, Fitzgerald's research provides an understanding of these issues. She also exposes how institutional power relations are racialized, how race is a social and political construction, and helps us understand larger cultural transformations. This insightful collection of research should be of interest to those who study sociology, anthropology, or cultural studies. Book jacket.

Author Biography

Kathleen J. Fitzgerald is associate professor of sociology at Columbia College

Table of Contents

Preface	p. ix
Introduction: Contextualizing Native American Racial/Ethnic Identity Reclamation	p. 1
Reclaimer Narratives: Exposing the Duality of Structure in Identity Formation	p. 31
Challenging White Hegemony: Reclaimers and the Culture Wars	p. 73
Reclaimer Practices: Religion, Spirituality, Language, Family, and Food	p. 111
"If It Looks Like a Duck": Physical Appearance and Reclaimer Identity	p. 151
"Wanna-bes" and "Indian Police": The Battle over Authenticity	p. 185
Conclusion: Contextualizing Non-White Racial/Ethnic Identity Reclamation	p. 225
Bibliography	p. 233
Index	p. 243
About the Author	p. 251
Table of Contents provided by Ingram. All Rights Reserved.