Good Book Review About How Race Survived US History

Race has been a thorny issue in the United States. It dates back to the colonial times of this country. It spans the centuries dating back to the ages even before the slavery period. As the American empire continues to rise today, it is often bedeviled by the contentious issue of race and prejudice to the minority groups and the immigrants in the United States. Many civil rights groups have tried to demonstrate and fight this vice numerous times, but their efforts have been able to stamp out this vice. In addition to the efforts that are exerted by civil rights movements and society groups, the government has set out legislation of various laws that are meant to fight and do away with racism but they are yet to realize the fruits of their endeavors. Through the progressive history of this country, race has persisted to be an exceptional subject that should be studied in detail in order to fully understand its roots, its development and the best ways to combat the vice.
In his book ‘How Race Survived US History,’ Roediger broadly tackles this subject right from the early centuries through the developments of this country and up to the time that Obama is nominated for president. The slavery that America experienced contributed immensely to the development of political institutions as well as the economic development of this country. Commodities like cotton that were picked and processed by members of a certain race mainly blacks who were the slaves created a lot of wealth. Roediger examines the issue of race and how deeply it is rooted in the American society today and how it continues to thrive amongst the communities and the population in general. The situation that he showcases is that race underpinned every aspect of American culture from its very beginning, and it is still flourishing even today.
In as much as an African-American is at the helm of the most powerful country in the world, the ghost of racism and prejudice based on race is still widespread rife and thriving amongst the society. The idea that this issue was created and is being recreated as time goes by makes it hard to stamp out. The survival of racial prejudice or racism in this country is based on its persistence by supremacists who continue to perpetrate it continuously. Roediger argues that race transected and overlapped all that was vibrant and progressive in the history of the United States. Some of the elements that have been significantly affected by this notion include globalization, economic development, migration as well as economic development. He goes ahead to assert that race will remain in the heart of the mainstream American life and continue to thrive and survive in the twenty-first century well after fifty years from now as America will become a non-white majority nation.
The common conceptions that race no longer matters after the election of Obama as the American president seems to be far-fetched. Despite the fact that an African-American is at the helm may not do much to stop the issue of racism and racial prejudice. The conservatives who have been assertive and insistent for an argument about the end of a race in the post-civil rights era found in Obama’s accomplishment and achievement verification to the end of racism. However, the minority groups including African Americans, Hispanics, Indians, Italian, and Irish have not been given an assurance that their privileges as minority groups have been upheld. Most of the injustices and inequality that takes place is based on race. Poor housing, unequal employment opportunities, lack of access to good healthcare and also the lack of education opportunities are some of the basic elements that characterize the treatment of minority groups.
The book is very helpful in understanding the issue of race, its history and development and also the issue of white supremacists. Growing racial differences and inequalities sit side by side with the election of the first African- American as the chief executive of this country. Racism cannot be abolished just by accident or by mere heresy. On the contrary, it requires strong, dedicated, deep and conscious anti-racist action. When analyzing the history of racism in the United States, it is also significant to consider the forces that shaped the racial thinking in this country. Roediger suggests that the study about the white supremacist will aid in identifying the key or the critical notions that are held by various groups about racism. The book also offers extensive arguments and insights about the sentiments that have been held by civil rights groups on this subject.
Roediger’s book is quite useful to students, historians and people who are carrying out research on the issue of race. It is a timely reading that offers the historical perspective of race and the current state of the subject and how it is set to affect the society in future. Most quarters that are set to talk about racism and prejudice have virtually remained silent as more people are falling into the trap of segregation into distinct groups that are purely based on race. The book persuasively shows how race is convolutedly and closely bound to the questions of class and also gender. I would recommend anybody to read people because of its unbiased view of the subject of race, a concept that America has grappled with since historical times and continued to deal with up to date. Roediger also tackles the role that race has played in the political and economic development of this country, and this provides more insight about the efforts of doing away with race.