And Difference, Power, Privilege

As an instructor working in the Humanities, finding non-threatening ways to talk about privilege, whiteness, and/or racism is very challenging. As I read the negative reviews, I am even more aware of how difficult it is to get these ideas across without being accused of self-hatred, etc. In an effort to encourage positive self reflection on these complex issues, I have read many of the foundation works Dr. Johnson mentions. His recapituation of these ideas is indeed gentle. One of the best things he does is make it possible for individuals to recognize that, while they may have unearned entitlements in one area, they may not have them in another. In this way, it is possible for practically everyone to recognize the feeling of being an outsider and this can lead to a compassion and understanding that has NOTHING TO DO with guilt. This work can create a bridge. As an instructor in the area of cultural studies, I often must challenge individuals who believe feeling guilty is all they can do. It isn't. Dr. Johnson gives us actions that we as individuals can actually engage. BTW the chapter on Capitalism is elegant dynamite.

If you are open to the possibility that things can get better through a personal self-reflective understanding of our socio-economic location, read this book. If not, don't waste your time.

Read this book, it will help you understand how YOU can be a part of the solution, rather than part of the problem. Making the world a more just place is all of our responsibility. But first, comes awareness. Don't be afraid, the truth will set you free.

I adopted this very readable book as one of several required books for my Multicultural Psychology class and it has had a tremendous impact on my students. Johnson explains the concept of privilege, as it applies to race, gender and sexual orientation, in ways that allow my White students and other students with privilege to hear and understand without getting defensive. He desribes why change is difficult but not impossible, what we can all do to stop supporting "the system" and why we should. I recommend it highly for both college and high school students and the general adult population.

I read this book filled with skepticism about what could be done about the problems of prejudice and injustice in our society. Johnson answered my every question and even pointed out ways that I fall short. He writes in a witty, conversational style, using many personal examples. I would recommend this book for absolutely anyone to read. Teachers: use this book in your classes. Mine did, and it has made a huge difference in my life.

Privelege power and differance has many good aspects to it It really provides of how things like racism, sexism and homophia play themselves out in our society and how people can over come these problems. However, the book has a tone of white guilt to it which makes it hard to believe. The book deals with the author's opinions on why capaitism is detructive and so forth.
The book is worth reading if you want to objective.

Johnson neuters any actual insight he might have effectively instilled in his readers by writing in generalizations. In writing the universal he uses the particular as examples in unfair and inaccurate representations of truth. Moreover, his actual writing is shoddy and employs logic in inappropriate and backwards ways.

"The typical man has an obsession with control." - Allan G. Rogers

This idea, expressed by the author tells you where this book is coming from.

There is no new ground covered in this book. Maybe it is new for the average freshman college student who is required to purcha$e this book for sociology 101. The man spouts off about how terrible capitalism is but he sure profits from the very same system. He himself rakes in the $$$$$$ from this racket he has going on in college campus bookstores and on the university speaking circuit.

The biggest problem I had with this reading is in chapter 3 on capitalism. Johnson writes as if capitalism played a role in discrimination and racism. If capitalism was personified as a real person, then it would not discriminate against people of color or gender. Capitalism encourages the maximization of total revenue and the minimization of total expenditures. Johnson claims that minorities are paid less and that whites are more privileged to higher pay and employment. Capitalism would hire people that had the best output to cost (to hire) ratio. If minorities really do work for less, then wouldn't this put working class whites out of a job? If whites were hired as a working class, then why would they be paid higher when minorities would work for less? It does not make economic sense. The characteristics of capitalism contradicts the statement that whites are privileged in terms of employment rate and pay. This is because capitalism does not cause discrimination. It is people that discriminate and bear their own preferences. Johnson writes a horrible chapter claiming capitalism as the cause for white privileges when it is really human beings. Capitalism including other market structures should not be described evil. Any personified market system would not discriminate against race or sex because it is not a contributing factor to efficiency or output of an industry. A system is not prejudice but the judgmental people that run it.

I'm upset how Johnson does not go into deeper explanation about how capitalism plays a role in white privilege. I'm not even white myself. Furthermore, I'm upset about how Johnson only talked about the ramifications of capitalism. Even if the statistics he presented were true, I believe that there is an extensive list about the benefits of capitalism. It encourages innovation, competition and it drives prices down with the exception of oligopolies and monopolies. No market system including capitalism should be the blame and criticized for discrimination or privileged of race but humans themselves.

$32.53 paperback - 171 pages of text
several pages of Notes - one note alone references approx 50 books/articles
seven pages of Resources - approx 150 authors, did notice Andrea Dworkin

Folksy, casual writing style speaking "truth to power", that is, how "white racism" and capitalism is oppressing, well, pretty much everyone else. Other than providing the means of a "shout out" to every progressive author of the last decade, there just isn't that much information there - about the same as a mass-market paperback of 170 pages, for $32.53 (plus taxes), and in classrooms across the nation!

So I guess that, in addition to his diversity classes, Doctor Johnson is doing OK with that capitalism thing.....

This is a disturbing book for one exceptional reason. The author, a former member of academia, intentionally relies on theories that require logical fallacies to prop up their existence. While it attempts to come off as non-threatening, the fact that it is such a blatant attack on objectivity and logic makes it a danger that should be identified and addressed.

This book doesn't promote equality as one might think, but it perpetuates hate. Aside from the negative message, the author bases his information on outdated facts. In addition, there is countless contradictions. For instance, he claims that the movie "The Color Purple" was only successful because of its affiliation with Steven Spielberg, a "powerful white male" with privilege. However, he states earlier that Jews are an oppressed group. Seriously?
As much as I despised reading this book, I would recommend reading it just so others can be aware of this ignorant movement of "privilege". But, check it out from a library, don't purchase it and add to this bigot's fortune.

This book makes many unfounded claims. It also does not accurately define many of the topics discussed such as capitalism. The author defines privilege as this hardwired, set in stone type of quality that is only granted to whites, men, heterosexuals, and nondisabled people. And, if you are from outside these social constructs you are not privileged, simple as that. I am an economist major with a minor in political science and at times the author writes about capitalism as if he were writing to Karl Marx. This book should not be used in classrooms as it is written with an agenda behind it.

Absolutely worst book I have ever read it generalizes and throws out assertions without any content to back it up... this book has a decent rating but a massive amount of 1 star ratings because if you have more then 2 brain cells or can take more then the gentlest of words this book will try to coddle you and only insult even the most modest of intellects. If you like to think about what the author says and have spent 5 seconds studying history you will hack up a lung when the author ignores conflicts, and immigration as reasons for racial stereotypes and tries so hard to make WASP straight guys look like bigoted racist pricks and spread hatred for whites without even trying to do anything about the problems of racial discrimination in the US, as if throwing blame will fix everything.

This book was assigned to me in my Criminal Justice class. It is very easily readable but FULL of mis-represented statistics and mis-quoted quotes.

This book has a major tone of shame directed at white americans. Mr. Johnson even attacks the American capitolist system, insenuating that it is a racist system.

This book is biased and very opinionated but the authors writing style mimics that of facts and statistics.

NOT recommended, especially for easily impressionable. I am very disapointed that this book is being used "unbiased, true, and factual" education tool.

This book adds nothing that isn't known about problems with discrimination and does nothing to heal. the idea the author makes that we must stop wounding before we can experience healing gives me an uncomfortable feeling he's out to throw bricks through supermarket windows and to breed hate and contempt until he becomes one of privilege. I feel this book is filled with venom that will hurt and not heal. If you are a person of privilege and have no idea and are looking for a book to give you a clue into the hurt and pain that minorities feel read this book. If you want to fill yourself with rage and fuel your hatred for the privileged read this book.