Introduction: Acting White, Acting Black, and Doing A Lot of
Work
1. Why Act White?
2. Talking White
3. Acting Like a Black Woman
4. Acting Like a White Woman
5. (Not) Acting Criminal
6. Acting Diverse
7. Acting Within the Law
8. Acting White to Help Other Blacks
Conclusion: Judging the Acting
Devon W. Carbado is Professor of Law at University of California, Los Angeles. Mitu Gulati is Professor of Law at Duke University.
"Courageous, poignant, and amusing too, Acting White? takes us deep
into the way racial identity operates in everyday life. Carbado and
Gulati focus on 'working identity' and explore the 'racial double
binds' that blacks-and others too-confront today. Intersectionality
figures prominently as well: gender and class dynamics receive
serious attention. The treatment of Barack Obama's racial identity
is particularly valuable. A brilliant analysis of how race is
experienced: in the workplace, in the university, on TV, and in
racial profiling, Acting White does some deep racial theorizing in
a very approachable way."--Howard Winant, Professor of Sociology,
UC
Santa Barbara
"This book is audacious. It takes on a racial phenomenon that few
people talk openly about-namely, that decision-makers screen
African Americans to ascertain whether they are "good blacks"
(racially palatable) or "bad blacks" (racially unpalatable).
Carbado and Gulati powerfully explain the incentives this creates
for African Americans to 'work' (strategically present) their
identities to avoid being perceived as 'bad' or too racially
salient. Whether you
agree or disagree with them, Acting White? is creative,
provocative, and a treat to read. After reading this irreverent,
witty, and jargon-free book, you will not be able to think about
race in the same
way."--Kimberlé Crenshaw, Professor of Law, Columbia and UCLA
"Now that you've picked it up, you would have to be crazy to set
this book down. You know you're curious to learn whether and how
you're Acting White. And you need to learn the performance secrets,
and the performance expectations, of your friends, your colleagues,
your boss. Acting White? brilliantly violates a taboo, by exposing
something that secretly we all sometimes do."--Ian F. Haney-López,
John H. Boalt Professor of Law, UC Berkeley
"Carbado and Gulati's compelling book is brilliant, eloquent, and
accessible to non-legal scholars. It is reminiscent of the most
provocative courtroom scenes in its arguments about the nuances and
limitations of anti-discrimination law, especially with respect to
intra-racial discrimination, a concept that is likely to be
unfamiliar to many lay readers. Their analysis of President Obama's
appointment of the first Latina to the Supreme court, Sonia
Sotomayor,
the dual constructions of Michelle Obama as both 'racially
palatable' and 'racially unpalatable,' and affirmative action
admission decisions in higher education are riveting in light of
contemporary
diversity discourse."--Beverly Guy-Sheftall, Anna Julia Cooper
Professor of Women's Studies, Spelman College
"Provocative and thought provoking, Carbado and Gulati have written
an essential book on the incredible complexities of defining race."
--CHOICE
"Law students will like Acting White because it is an easy read and
it can help those who need to know how to navigate law firms when
identity issues come up. Readers wanting to know how to create a
working identity they can live with and not feel as though they are
selling out can refer to the authors' discussion of four stages of
racial negotiation. This book has much to offer and is a must for
any library." --Law Library Journal
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