Lifting the White Veil: An Exploration of White American Culture in a Multiracial Context

by Jeff Hitchcock

Lifting the White Veil is a highly readable, information packed, personable and engaging work. One might imagine there is little to say about the experience of being white in America. Hitchcock not only proves this false, he shows why looking at white culture is a necessary step in fostering a multiracial society. The book draws upon contemporary scholarly thought from a range of disciplines, including history, psychology, sociology, and literary studies. But the author retains a common touch, adding his personal observations and experiences, fusing an informative fact-based presentation with some old-fashioned self-revelation and story telling. Lifting the White Veil is an uplifting, thought-provoking and hopeful book that will point white Americans in new and fruitful directions, both in terms of self-understanding and in terms of moving toward the actualization of a multiracial society in the United States.

262 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 2002

Reviews

[Liz · Rating 3 out of 5]

101 intro to whiteness and white culture in America.

[♑︎♑︎♑︎ ♑︎♑︎♑︎ · Rating 3 out of 5]

A gentle introduction to the idea that the dominant (white) culture of the U.S. is seen as a neutral-good-normal way of being, if you're part of it (if you're white, that is)...and how "white" being a default of "normal" prevents us from evolving into a true multiracial society. The book has to hit you in the right stage of your thinking--you have to be ready to hear the message, but to not have thought about it so much yet or quite accepted it as yet that there is such a thing as "white cutlure," to get the most from this book. It's straightforward and non-scary and non-confrontational, maybe a little too much that way, and I can imagine it would be perfect for a first college class on diversity or any group discussion where everyone is all still a little nervous about discussing race in the group.

[Nick · Rating 4 out of 5]

An excellent look at what it means to be "white" in our culture. The premise of this book is that we will never be able to have racial dialogue or healing unless whites begin to understand their own heritage and culture. Hitchcock makes a case that discussion of "white culture" is not socially acceptable, not least among whites (who do not see ourselves as having a distinct culture). Written by a white guy for white people, this book is respectful, hopeful, and helpful. Recommended for anyone of any race, working towards better racial dialogue.

[Lucinda Winslow · Rating 4 out of 5]

Powerful and effective anti-racist opening to looking at how white culture is not a default, invisible presence, a center of 'life as it should be', but a culture like any other, with its rules and its up sides and its dark sides. Sometimes difficult to own, but a must read for anyone who is interested in working for a multi-racial society.