The Cost of Privilege: Taking on the System of White Supremacy and Racism

by Chip Smith

The Cost of Privilege takes readers from the creation of the white race over three centuries ago to the present-day myth of a colorblind society; from the intersections of class, gender, and race to the concrete benefits—and harsh underside—of the privileges white people experience every day; from the victories when people allied across the color line to the failures of some of those alliances to hold; from personal transformations to international struggles. "Chip Smith has given us a powerful weapon for the battle against white supremacy. It combines an in-depth look at the long history of this profoundly rooted plague with an enlightening, up-do-date review of the many efforts to end it. We have here much more than a brilliant analysis of past and present, the author dares to outline a bold program of revolutionary action that lays out both the challenges to be faced and how to confront them. Who could ask for more?" —Elizabeth (Betita) Martinez, Chicana author, activist and director of the Institute for MultiRacial Justice " The Cost of Privilege is one of those rare books that manages to blend first-rate analysis around racism and white supremacy, with first-rate class analysis as well. The result is that the reader gains invaluable insights into the ways in which capitalism and white supremacy have interacted to produce and reproduce injustice, and the ways in which the working class has remain divided by the promise of white privilege to some of its members. This is an important and insightful volume." —Tim Wise, author of White Like Reflections on Race from a Privileged Son "This is a path-breaking study of the sometimes baffling dynamics of racial oppression in the United States. In fact, this is the most comprehensive and clear analysis of racism and national oppression that I've seen. I especially like the fact that this is a call for action against racial injustice. Sun Tzu wrote the classic The Art of War ; but this is book about the "art of liberation" in America today. It is recommended reading for any serious activist fighting for social justice in our time. Not just theory, but a guide to action!" —Komozi Woodard, author of A Nation within a Amiri Baraka and Black Power Politics " The Cost of Privilege is U.S. history without jargon and blinders. It demonstrates how a stronger grasp of the past may be used to inform social justice organizing in the present. Chip Smith is not interested in moralizing about white supremacy; he wants to dismantle it. Smith presents historical and personal case studies about how to challenge racism as well as anti-immigrant hysteria. Community activists, union organizers, and educators will find this book indispensable in their work." —Paul Ortiz, author of Emancipation The Hidden History of Black Organizing and White Violence in Florida from Reconstruction to the Bloody Election of 1920

Genres: Race, History, Nonfiction, Feminism

498 pages, Paperback

First published March 1, 2007

Reviews

[Steev Hise · Rating 5 out of 5]

i have an early proof copy of this, and the subtitle is slightly different: "Overcoming White Supremacy and Racism".

This is a great book. Every white person should be required to read this, but then again, if we lived in a world where that was required then maybe they wouldn't need to read it. ha.

Anyway, I think anyone who wants to learn about the history of racism and "whiteness" and also get ideas for how to advance their own personal and social struggle against white supremacy would benefit from this book. It's clearly written and covers all the bases in a thorough and persuasive manner.

[Geoff · Rating 4 out of 5]

This seems to be a book expressing Freedom Road Socialist Organization's political line on questions relating to race in the United States (though I could be wrong). This book manages to combine history, political analysis, and ideas for action fairly successfully. The politics are fairly orthodox Leninist. Berlet argues in defense of the idea that most people of color in the US are oppressed nations with a right to self-determination. The Cost of Privilege manages to both uphold much of the communist tradition's approach to these questions while incorporating radical feminism and queer liberation toward the end of creating a revolutionary praxis for the 21st century

[Lauren · Rating 5 out of 5]

If you want to really educate yourself about race and white privilege, if you want to commit to dismantling white supremacy and systemic racial injustice, then read this book!! It will provide you with a comprehensive history of the rise of "whiteness" in America, and acquaint you with the histories of the opressed nations who have been resisting for centuries. It's a powerful organizing tool. It should be required reading for every white person.

[Auntie M · Rating 2 out of 5]

A lot has happened since this book was written (President Obama, the 99%ers), so in some ways it is horribly out of date.
On the other hand, the more things change, the more they stay the same. White privilege hasn't really changed, but there have been some seismic shifts that will hopefully cause the system of privilege to fall in the future. May be even in my lifetime?

[James Tracy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Finally! A book that looks at White Privilege without all the white guilt shit. A useful tool for both political and personal growth.

[David02139 · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good overview and suggestions for combating white privilege. Purchased at progressive bookstore in
DC.

[Kobie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very academic but good book. Learned a lot. Some parts were hard to make it through, only reason not 5 star.