Description:
Why do racial inequalities persist, and in some cases deepen, in an era that claims to be 'post-racial'?
Despite popular narratives of progress, Black and minority ethnic communities continue to face systemic disadvantage. In this fully revised and updated edition, Kalwant Bhopal uncovers how shifting social, political and economic landscapes in both the UK and US have not only failed to reduce racial discrimination but instead have intensified it.
From the backlash against #BlackLivesMatter to the rise of far-right governments denying the relevance of race altogether, this book dismantles the illusion of racial progress. Drawing on timely debates and grounded in empirical evidence, Bhopal reveals how race continues to shape access to power, opportunity and justice.
Urgent and unflinching, this is essential reading for anyone interested in exposing the myth of a post-racial society.
Brief description: Kalwant Bhopal is Professor of Education and Social Justice and Director of the Centre for Research on Race and Education at the University of Birmingham. From 2019-20 she was visiting Professor at Harvard University at the Graduate School of Education and is currently visiting Professor at King's College London. Her areas of interest and expertise focus on the educational experiences of black and minority ethnic groups as well as Gypsies and Travellers. Her research specifically explores how processes of racism, exclusion and marginalisation operate in predominantly white spaces with a focus on social justice and inclusion.
Review Quotes:
"An important contribution to understanding the reality of white privilege, and the need to challenge and overcome it." Peter Tatchell, human rights campaigner
"In this updated edition, supported by extensive empirical work, white privilege is shown to have a multi-faceted impact on inequalities in contemporary societies. In our troubled times, this is a must-read for students, policy makers and activists." John Preston, University of Essex
"This is the definitive examination of 'white privilege', a term that was once restricted to academic debates, but is now the stuff of social media disinformation, anti-'woke' hatred and the international culture wars. In this exceptional book, Kalwant Bhopal unflinchingly examines white privilege as a material fact that influences where you live, your educational chances, and even your likelihood of a premature death. Updated to include the COVID pandemic and Black Lives Matter racial reckoning, this is a vital contribution."
David Gillborn, author of White Lies: Racism, Education and Critical Race Theory