The Heart of Whiteness: Confronting Race, Racism and White Privilege Paperback – September 1, 2005

This is an extremely important book that broaches the biggest problem that confronts the human community and holds back a true utopia (the inability of white people to realize that they are the problem and their inability to come to grips with their evil actions around the world prevents a healthy push forward for us all). Genocide of the Indians, Slavery followed by economic re-enslavement of blacks, repatriation of Mexican Americans, Worldwide colonialism, internment camps for Japanese Americans, dropping nuclear bombs on the Japanese, Vietnam, Iraq, endless police brutality and the mass incarceration of blacks are just a few examples of the psychotic need for whites to exterminate and or control non-whites. These actions followed by whites showing absolutely no remorse and in fact taking pride in their evil actions shows extreme denial and severe psychosis.Racism is a one way street due to the fact that whites created the concept of race in order to categorize all non-whites in their sub-categories and when whites practice racism they are supported by the system of white supremacy that protects them and no one else. Anyone who does something terrible and represses that is setting themselves up for problems. And someone whose relatives are responsible for something horrible affects them on some level if their aware of it. There is clear shame in the fact that white people try to shield their children from the actions of their ancestors (in detail) and constantly rewrite history painting them as heroes and saviors. It is also reinforced by the fact that in American pop culture all of the heroes are white. Every medium in America supports the idea that whites are superior to non-whites. This ideological brainwashing has been so affective that it has convinced some non-whites that it is true as well. White people refuse to accept that they are the bad guys and all the problems that confront non-white people start with them.I refuse to show patriotism or celebrate America (even though I am an American) because white people murdered, raped and imprisoned non-whites for so long, never apologized or showed restitution to those they wronged, continue to practice racism (foreign and domestic) and expect me to take pride in that. Until this day, whites do everything they can to deprive non-whites of adequate education, force them into isolated impoverished communities, force them into low paying jobs, target them with law enforcement brutality, a corrupt justice system, mass incarceration and talk of a post-racial society. With a history like America has, to me to celebrate America is to celebrate white power (until a true system of justice is established). All whites know this is true and refuse to acknowledge facts because it keeps them in power and control. Until this psychosis is acknowledged and white people come to grips with the horrors they've done and continue to do, race will always be the primary determining factor in a person's life. This book is a stepping stone in confronting that truth. I just wish the book was longer.

I highly recommend "The Heart of Whiteness" if you seek to learn. Those of us who are White will be challenged by this book. You will be uncomfortable knowing that it is unearned privilege that gives Whites advantages educationally, financially, within the criminal justice system, and even through laws written to maintain that privilege (laws re: crack cocaine vs. powder cocaine). That discomfort has lead to poor reviews of the book, I suspect.Those of you who are of color (or non-White) will find comfort in the truths and affirmation that this book offers.Read this book, and by all means do your research. Look at the author's citations. Google for news articles regarding disparities in education, housing/mortgages, bankruptcies, stop and frisk laws, etc... The evidence of racism is rife and is evident if you are willing to see.Racism is defined as PREJUDICE plus POWER. Whites are able to be racist: they struggle with prejudices (many of them subconscious) and then have the power to implement the subconscious fears into systemic racism: subprime rates for Black home buyers vs. attractive mortgages at fixed rates for White home buyers with similar credit, teachers/textbooks and curriculum aimed at teaching White students, a criminal justice system that targets non-Whites in stop and frisk, arrests, etc...Robert Jensen condenses the meaning of White Privilege and he puts it into context. I hope you are willing to challenge yourself, become uncomfortable, research for yourself, and then ask yourself what it is that Whites need to do to make this country an equitable one for people of all skin colors (religions, sexual orientations, etc...)The challenge is that once you become aware - and it is no longer subconscious - you see with new perspective, and the reality haunts you. It requires a person of conscience to respond.

Written by a white author, this small volume is a solid step in to the heart of whiteness, to see more clearly the devastating effects we (who are born white) have on our community and culture when we are not willing to acknowledge the systems in place that give us an automatic unearned advantage. This isn't a book that rains "white guilt" on our heads, but empowers us to live in a way that can only make this a better, safer world for everyone.

As an independent historian, I enjoy any thing that SPEAKS on truth, and historical REALITY! We live in a society that has become so self-absorbed, and brainwashed that, when they are faced with INFORMATION that will burst their DELUSIONAL bubble, they will do, and say almost anything to hold on to that delusion of theirs. The author of this book has given historical facts regarding WHITE PRIVILEGE and this system of WHITE SUPREMACY, and I give this many THUMBS UP! Until we learn what the difference is between RACISM, BIASES, PREJUDICES, and BIGOTRY, we will forever live in a society, and country that is on the verge of an EXPLOSION! The first step is to fully understand that RACE is one of the most destructive words ever created! It truly doesn't exist as far as science and DNA is concerned, however, the social aspect of it is as real as the sun beaming down its rays of ENERGY! Robert Jensen is, someone WHO I feel I can relate to, even though will share different experiences, and come from different societal backgrounds! In summary, the book is A1! This is to say, you will not be dissatisfied, unless you are of many who live in the land of the LIAR, whereas TRUTH is BANNED!

The author does a very good job of bringing to the attention of the reader one of the major sources of racism: white privilege. While it is understandably rejected by those who benefit from racist practices and beliefs, the book does provoke people (who are open about the issue) to reconsider their involvement in such privilege.