Katznelson is one of those leading writers who have proved themselves in providing much knowledge to the readers about social and political history. A professional in political science and history, he is best known for his influential research upon United States and covered topics such as social knowledge, liberal state, inequality, and institutions. His work always brings exceptional aspects that have been most important in the history of America. He has highlighted various features that have been a part of American history and has unfolded the inequalities that were evidenced in the 20th century. A collection of his books is exemplary as each of them has something interesting for readers and his fans. “When affirmative action was white- An Untold History of Racial Inequality in Twentieth Century America” is also one of those books written by Katznelson that discusses United States and prevailing inequalities in twentieth century related to race and affirmative action.
When affirmative action was white is all about discussing the era from great depression to the repercussions of the Second World War. American has been witnessing greater inequality between whites and blacks, and Katznelson highlighted this subject through his writing. During the great depression, the economic policies that were made to improve the society excluded African Americans. According to the policies, African Americans could not attain social parity. In the twentieth century polices and affirmative action widened gap of living standards between black and white. The book emphasizes the readers to look behind, reminds, and evaluates the truths and policies of history. By working on American history, Katznelson traced the origins of twentieth century when inequality glared from the early days of the new deal. A book focuses upon the aspects such as public policy and race that have been neglected from the past. It gives a chance to reexamine the policies of America that need to be shifted to become a nation that is equal for every citizen.
During the twentieth century, America was trying to build its middle class, deploying social security, fair deal, New Deal, and GI bill only to whites, massively advantaging them, and maximizing the racial pattern of poverty. At the time when Franklin Roosevelt and Harry Truman were administrating, various policies were established related to areas such as protective labor laws, state pensions, rules for work, mobilization and military service, and social security along with the GI bill (benefits for veterans) . According to the author, it was called an affirmative action for whites excluding and treating differently a vast majority of African Americans. The introduction of domestic policies bought no positive impacts for the people who were more deserving. It meant that rich got richer and poor went into more destitute. However, over all social structure was dramatically reshaping and the whole nation of white Americans was moving towards prosperity. Similarly, GI bill of Rights also targeted towards the support of Americans and overall domestic program was bringing protection, skills, and mobility to the American state. A revolution reflected a positive role of government that remade the social structure of a country quite successfully. However, such programs, polices, laws, and revolution had no blacks, damaging the racial equality. Public laws had devastating effects as Americans were enjoying the labor laws of New Deal and Fair Deal according to which they were entitled for good minimum wage, secured maximum hours, and the right to be a part of craft and industrial unions. Framework was protecting millions of workers but that excluded majority black Americans who could get no protection, creating unsettling history. As a result, author highlighted the issue of inequality between blacks and whites as according to him and many, the nation should be treated equally, no matter from where each one relates. According to the New deal and Fair deal white Americans were totally protected and through the provision of public policies were having good jobs, economic security, and every valuable tool to build their assets and get good status of life. On the other hand, blacks were just left out to do things on their own and fend their lives. This issue had been going on since the end of Second World War and it continues until today. Since then unstated and perverted form of affirmative action has been going on. Affirmative action of the 1960’s, along with the federal policy, civil rights legislation just boosted white Americans and helped them to heighten their suburbs, homes, employment, and universities. However, the same support was denied to black citizens who could not get benefits from affirmative action and civil rights. An enormous gap among white and black Americans widened in spite of the affluence of post wars capitalism of golden age.
The time passed and blacks were hardly given their rights until President Lyndon Baines Johnson signed voting rights act according to which minorities were supposed to be given every right that they deserved. President Johnson put the efforts to eradicate human damage, and progressed towards equality through introducing his affirmative action programs. Katznelson entered this conflict through his book and sought to provide an extensive historical explanation for continuing affirmative action program. Through his work, Katznelson principally focused upon the Fair deal and New deal that totally discriminated against blacks and widened the difference between white and black Americans. The discrimination was judged in terms of attainment of higher income, quality of jobs, educational achievement, quality of housing etc. Unfair treatment of blacks reflected the failure of judiciary and policy makers until the civil rights revolution took place.
However, discrimination and gap between whites and blacks have long been in debate and have been a part of history for longer but Katznelson brought broader insights in to it. He brought an in-depth study by emphasizing the treatment and policies of federal government that were targeted at improving the lifestyle of American middle class and introduced a framework that was vibrant and extremely secure. Katznelson supported his analysis through a use of statistics and examples and showed how blacks were given far less support than white Americans did. When Affirmative action was white revealed and detailed the method of politics through which strong Southern Congressional barons formed the programs in biased and inequitable ways. During the 20th century, blacks were mainly involved in agriculture occupation or occupied in domestic household work. Southern members of congress also put a demand to exclude the occupations in which blacks were involved. Members demanded to eliminate the rights of blacks from workmen’s compensation, minimum wage, unemployment compensation, and social security. Being a historian and expert in political science Katznelson criticized the GI bill of rights that expanded plenty of opportunities for workers who came back from Second World War. However, GI bill overall brought great achievement, unleashing prosperity largely. Nevertheless, GI bill was mainly a support for white counterparts, disfavoring black individuals. It was purposefully developed in favor of whites, as stated by the author. Exclusion of blacks from colleges, universities, banks, businesses, administrations, training programs, and various fields were all so common at that time. In addition to that, blacks were just allowed to go for low paying jobs and small colleges exclusively for blacks. Blacks were channeled to traditional occupations. They were ill equipped and underfinanced in a pitiful condition. The thing was that administered and federal programs did not sustain the rights of minorities but powered its solid middle class. Katznelson’s work directly or indirectly influenced the affirmative action and came with a purpose. His book’s highlights included the insidious reality and recurring racial bias that have been and will continue in the American public life.
Katznelson purpose to issue such a work is to locate the history strategically on affirmative action and terrain. Discrimination and such a treatment with African Americans date back to 1960. The policies and decision at that time were conflicting, taking race in to account. Katznelson focuses upon breaching the rule of colorblind and offers various examples of affirmative action that can help to yield symbolic and tangible compensation. Katznelson’s efforts in “When Affirmative action was white” are exceptional as it adds disciplines and topics that were frequently secluded. The book discusses public policy and proves to be very rich in terms of history. It does not just provide several references and information about political economy of race, administration, and social policy but also emphasizes upon redressing injuries occurred to blacks and introduces action that can rectify the past discriminations that were done deliberately or unintentionally.
Work Cited
Katznelson, Ira. When affirmative action was white: An untold history of racial inequality in twentieth-century America. WW Norton & Company, 2005.
