The Problem of Race in the Twenty-first Century

The Nathan I. Huggins Lectures

by Thomas C. Holt

"The problem of the twentieth century is the problem of the color-line," W. E. B. Du Bois wrote in 1903, and his words have proven sadly prophetic. As we enter the twenty-first century, the problem remains--and yet it, and the line that defines it, have shifted in subtle but significant ways. This brief book speaks powerfully to the question of how the circumstances of race and racism have changed in our time--and how these changes will affect our future.

Foremost among the book's concerns are the contradictions and incoherence of a system that idealizes black celebrities in politics, popular culture, and sports even as it diminishes the average African-American citizen. The world of the assembly line, boxer Jack Johnson's career, and The Birth of a Nation come under Holt's scrutiny as he relates the malign progress of race and racism to the loss of industrial jobs and the rise of our modern consumer society. Understanding race as ideology, he describes the processes of consumerism and commodification that have transformed, but not necessarily improved, the place of black citizens in our society.

As disturbing as it is enlightening, this timely work reveals the radical nature of change as it relates to race and its cultural phenomena. It offers conceptual tools and a new way to think and talk about racism as social reality.

Genres: History, Race

160 pages, Kindle Edition

First published January 1, 2001

About the author

Professor Thomas Cleveland Holt taught at Howard University, Harvard University, the University of California, Berkeley, and the University of Michigan.

Reviews

[Mehrsa · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is an excellent theoretical book about the evolution of race and racism. After each chapter, I wanted even more. Race and racism evolve in tandem in the context of markets, labor, and property.

[Teddy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Read for the UChicago MMUF SRTP

[FL · Rating 5 out of 5]

Although some of the details are dated---"George Bush" is who we'd now call HW, there was clearly no reason for the author to be optimistic for a better state of things in 2017, and the prison-industrial complex wasn't as much in the public mind then---this book presents a clear outline of useful ways of thinking about race in its historical context. I believe it was originally a lecture series, which explains the tone of its prose: not too dense to be unreadable, yet academic enough to be rigorous.

[Brandon · Rating 4 out of 5]

A well discussed summary and assessment of the meanings and manifestations of race and racism in the last four centuries. While the language is a bit dense, there are many moments that are relatable, thought-provoking, and that question preconceived notions. I'm curious to know what else would have been included if this had been written now in 2017.

[Maria del Carmen Garcia · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love the way that it has forced me to think about the narrative of race. The last chapter literally moved me to tears and engaged me to find ways to find my own way to be a hero, to subtly resist, and not to racialize others.

I wonder if the incipient DAO movement is the global network of resistance.

[Malinda · Rating 4 out of 5]

I've used this to interesting effect in a research seminar for undergraduates--it usefully explores the history of race as a social construction. Even though much of it was over my students' heads, we had several useful discussions debating specific passages.

[Jake · Rating 4 out of 5]

It dives into broad aspects of race, and the theory is engaging and well thought out. That said, it seems to almost skim the surface in places, and the depth is pretty inconsistent. Would be a great text for several classrooms, though.