Race in the 21st Century Ethnographic Approaches

by Hartigan, Jr., John

• ISBN13: 9780195375602
• ISBN10: 0195375602
• Edition: 1st
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 2009-11-30
• Publisher: Oxford University Press

Summary

What is the state of race relations in the U.S.? Are we making progress toward ending racial discrimination and prejudice? What, exactly, does "race" mean? In Race in the 21st Century: Ethnographic Approaches, John Hartigan takes an anthropological look at questions such as these by introducing students to the study of race through qualitative approaches. In the first text to take an explicitly ethnographic approach, Hartigan summarizes and explains the current state of social science knowledge on race in the United States. In the process of surveying this research, Hartigan guides readers to think through basic important questions about race in relation to their own circumstances. Unlike many texts, however, this one focuses not on essential differences between racial or ethnic groups, but rather on the commonalities. The author concentrates on the particular contexts where people actively engage and respond to racial meanings and identities. In this way, he encourages readers to think critically about the meaning of race. Ideal for undergraduate courses in race and ethnicity, the anthropology of race, and cultural/human diversity, Race in the 21st Century seamlessly brings together classic and contemporary studies in one accessible volume. The author is also hosting a companion website (www.raceinthe21stcentury.com) that features useful web links, sample assignments, and reviews of ethnographies not covered in the text.

Author Biography

John Hartigan is Associate Professor of Anthropology at University of Texas at Austin and the Director of the Americo Paredes Center for Cultural Studies. He is the author of Odd Tribes: Towards a Cultural Analysis of White People (Duke University Press, 2005) and Racial Situations: Class Predicaments of Whiteness in Detroit (Prince University Press, 1999).

Table of Contents

Preface

Recognizing Race

Recognizing Racial Identity

The Facts of Racial Inequality

The Changing Role of Racism

The Cultural Domain

Race in Relation to Culture

Cultural Analysis

Ethnographic Examples

Culture, Race, and Ethnography

Fundamental Features of Racial Analysis

Ethnographic perspectives on race

Cultural Dynamics of Race

American Culture and Race

Antiracism and Ethnography

Ethnography of Antiracist Workshops

Another View from Detroit

How to Listen to White Talk

Combining an Attention to Race and Culture

Race and Nature

What is nature?

Totemic Identities

Racial Classification

(Mis)uses of Biology

Race and Disease

Racial Health Disparities

Understanding Genetics: Groups & Populations

Understanding Genetics and Culture: The Controversy

Genes and Culture: A Resolution

Conclusion

Understanding whiteness

Objectifying White People

What is Whiteness

Whiteness and Discourse

Whiteness as a Subject of Study

Studying White People in Everyday Life

Locating Whites in the Social Landscape

Class and Race: Bringing Greater Specificity to Whiteness

Understanding Blackness

Objectifying Black People

What is Blackness

Blackness and Discourse

Blackness as a Subject of Study

Studying Black People in Everyday Life

Locating Blacks in the Social Landscape

Class and Race: Brining Greater Specificity to Blackness

Beyond black and white

Racial Groups?

Ethnicity and Race

Racialization of Latinos and Asian Americans

Ethnographic Perspectives on Latinos

Ethnographic Perspectives on Asian Americans

Ethnography of Race

What do we know about race based on ethnographic research?

Cultural Analysis of Race

Taking it to the field: Analyzing Race in a Cultural Framework

Prompts for Ethnographic Research

Glossary

Bibliography

Index

Table of Contents provided by Publisher. All Rights Reserved.