Racism Without Racists by Eduardo Bonilla-Silva examines how color-blind racism perpetuates systemic discrimination in contemporary American society. Through interviews and data, the book reveals how racism persists subtly yet perniciously, often disguised under the ideology of being "color-blind." Revised to address recent events like the Trump presidency, COVID-19, and the Black Lives Matter movement, it concludes with a call to action for antiracist activism.

Eduardo Bonilla-Silva's Racism without Racists is widely praised for its insightful analysis of contemporary racial issues, offering a compelling critique of color-blind ideologies. Readers appreciate its thorough research and clear writing. However, some find its repetitive arguments less engaging. Overall, it is deemed essential for understanding modern racism.

Readers who would enjoy Racism without Racists by Eduardo Bonilla-Silva are those interested in contemporary sociology, critical race theory, and systemic racism. Similar audiences might also appreciate Michelle Alexander's The New Jim Crow and Robin DiAngelo's White Fragility, as these works explore racial dynamics in modern society.

Informative / Challenging / Mysterious / Unnerving / Contemplative

- Racism without Racists introduces the concept of "color-blind racism," a term coined by Eduardo Bonilla-Silva to describe a post-civil rights racial ideology that serves to maintain racial inequality.
- Eduardo Bonilla-Silva, author of Racism without Racists, is a distinguished Puerto Rican sociologist known for his extensive research and writings on racial structures and racial inequality in America.
- The book has been widely influential in both academic and popular discussions on race, prompting debates on how racism manifests in ostensibly race-neutral policies and societal norms.

Eduardo Bonilla-Silva

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Overview

Get ready to explore Racism without Racists and its meaning. Our full analysis and study guide provides an even deeper dive with character analysis and quotes explained to help you discover the complexity and beauty of this book.

Racism without Racists Summary and Study Guide

Background

Racism without Racists Background

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Chapter Summaries & Analyses

Preface to the Sixth Edition

Racism without Racists Preface to the Sixth Edition Summary & Analysis

Chapter 1: “The Strange Enigma of Race in Contemporary America”

Chapter 1 Racism without Racists Chapter 1 Summary & Analysis

Chapter 2: “What is Systemic Racism? Coming to Terms with How Racism Shapes ‘All’ Whites (and Non-Whites)”

Chapter 2 Racism without Racists Chapter 2 Summary & Analysis

Chapter 3: “The New Racism: The U.S. Racial Structure Since the 1960s”

Chapter 3 Racism without Racists Chapter 3 Summary & Analysis

Chapter 4: “The Central Frames of Color-Blind Racism”

Chapter 4 Racism without Racists Chapter 4 Summary & Analysis

Chapter 5: “The Style of Color Blindness: How to Talk Nasty about Minorities without Sounding Racist”

Chapter 5 Racism without Racists Chapter 5 Summary & Analysis

Chapter 6: “‘I Didn’t Get That Job Because of a Black Man’: Color-Blind Racism’s Racial Stories”

Chapter 6 Racism without Racists Chapter 6 Summary & Analysis

Chapter 7: “Peeking Inside the White Habitus: The Significance of Whites’ Segregation”

Chapter 7 Racism without Racists Chapter 7 Summary & Analysis

Chapter 8: “Are All Whites Refined Archie Bunkers? An Examination of White Racial Progressives”

Chapter 8 Racism without Racists Chapter 8 Summary & Analysis

Chapter 9: “Are Blacks Color Blind, Too?” 

Chapter 9 Racism without Racists Chapter 9 Summary & Analysis

Chapter 10, Section 1 Summary & Analysis: “Color-Blind Racism in Pandemic Times”

Chapter 10 Racism without Racists Chapter 10 Summary & Analysis

Chapter 11: “Conclusion: No Excuses: You Must Join the Fight Against Color-Blind and Systemic Racism in America” 

Racism Without Racists: Color-Blind Racism and the Persistence of Racial Inequality in America

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