The possessive investment in whiteness

George Lipsitz examines white supremacy not just as personal prejudice, but as a structured advantage that provides unearned benefits to white individuals while creating systemic barriers for minorities in areas like employment, housing, and healthcare. This analysis extends beyond the black/white dynamic to include Asian Americans, Latinos, and Native Americans. The book scrutinizes the limitations of civil rights laws, the racial implications of economic shifts, and the impact of environmental racism, job discrimination, and school segregation. This revised edition also includes an essay on Hurricane Katrina's impact on working-class Black communities in New Orleans.