The Arrogance of Race: Historical Perspectives on Slavery, Racism, and Social Inequity Paperback - 1989

The Arrogance of Race is a significant contribution to the historiography of slavery and racism in America. George Fredrickson, one of the most respected and cogent historians of this complex and troubling subject, maintains that racism is a cultural phenomenon not a mere by-product of class conflict and colonialism. He opts for a "dualistic" rather than a more popular monolithic explanation of the tragedy of racism. "The Arrogance of Race summarizes a generation of labor by one of America's master scholars. It is superbly wrought - a work of forensic brilliance and sheer intelligence." -Joel Williamson, University of North Carolina "George M. Fredrickson has again demonstrated why he is one of the preeminent historians of racism and slavery. The Arrogance Race is packed with information ad insights on the evolution systems of inequality and will be read and admired by scholars and students across academic disciplines."- William Julius Wilson, University of Chicago "Summarizes a generation of labor by one of America's master scholars. It is superbly wrought -a work of forensic brilliance and sheer intelligence"-Joel Williamson, University of North Carolina "One need not agree with everything George Fredrickson writes or, indeed, share his point of view, to welcome this collection. George Fredrickson asks big questions and explores them with insight and in rich context. Everyone concerned with racial crisis in America could profit by a close reading of this book." - Eugene D. Genovese, University of Rochester "In these searching essays, Fredrickson establishes the centrality of race and ethnicity in the American experience, and he makes an impressive argument for the need to recognize the autonomy of racism in the culture of this nation. The Arrogance of Race demonstrates that race should be understood as an independent force, fully capable of developing a life of its own and often exercising a decisive influence upon the course of our history. Fredrickson has charted the ext stage in the investigation and interpretation of race and racism, the nation's most urgent continuing problem." - Herbert Hill, University of Wisconsin - Madison