Chapter 1 Acknowledgements Chapter 2 Prologue Chapter 3 The New Racial Etiquette: The Ritual of Racial Reprimand Chapter 4 Radical Chic and the Rise of a Politics of Therapy Chapter 5 The Encounter Group: A New Interracial Mode for Integration Chapter 6 Racial Identity Theory: Groundwork for a Renewal of Suspicion Chapter 7 Revolt against Repression: New Age Therapy from the Fringe to the Mainstream Chapter 8 A World of Endless Slights: Diversity Training and its Illogical Consequences Chapter 9 In Perpetual Recovery: The Problem with Multicultural Education for Self-Esteem Chapter 10 Epilogue Chapter 11 Notes Chapter 12 Credits Chapter 13 Index
Elisabeth Lasch-Quinn is the author of Black Neighbors (winner of the Berkshire Prize), professor of history at Syracuse University, and a frequent contributor to The New Republic. She lives in Syracuse, New York with her husband, Ray, and two daughters, Isabel and Honoré.
Elisabeth Lasch-Quinn has written an important book. It can be read
in at least three ways: As a courageous critique of the racial
etiquette that has become institutionalized in post-integration
America. As a case study of the pervasive psychologization of
American culture. And as a Menckenesque account of the way in which
both cultural developments can be exploited lucratively by alleged
experts. The reader will consecutively nod with recognition, laugh
somewhat bitterly, and perhaps even get angry.
*Peter Berger, author of The Social Construction of
Reality*
America's racial crisis is getting worse. While there is plenty of
blame to go around, much falls on 'race experts' who disseminate
disinformation and promote thinly disguised totalitarian ideology.
In clear, hard-hitting English, Elisabeth Lasch-Quinn presents a
well-reasoned and well-balanced analysis that exposes an insidious
racket. Race Experts contributes significantly to the two-front
struggle against racism and demagogy.
*Eugene D. Genovese, author of Roll, Jordan, Roll*
This is a book for those who want more specifics on how the
activists in the Civil Rights Movement—aided and abetted by
pandering white liberal elites—are in full retreat from the
American principle of color-blindness, and are now celebrating
race-consciousness and 'racial differences.' As a whole, it is an
essential primer, replete with eye-opening horror tales of
political correctness, including the antics of racial/ethnic
stereotype-reinforcement, which masquerade as 'sensitivity' and
diversity training in workplaces and schools. Moreover, this is a
handy reference for those already knowledgeable but thoroughly fed
up with the histronics of racial therapy, which plays on guilt, and
touchy feelings, rather than on evidence and intellect as the basis
for evaluating ideas and overcoming parochial prejudices.
*Michael Meyers, executive director, New York Civil Rights
Coalition*
After a talk I once gave suggesting new practical paths that the
Civil Rights movement might take, a black student told me
disappointedly that she had expected that I would lend her guidance
in 'forming an identity.' Race Experts crisply uncovers the source
of this student's expectation. Elisabeth Lasch-Quinn deftly shows
how the original Civil Rights leaders' quest for concrete community
uplift has been hijacked by attempts to police and cleanse the
thought processes of individuals. Anyone seeking truly to
understanding the theatrics of Jesse Jackson, the black white score
gap in education, the new career of 'diversity counselor,' the rise
and fall of the Black Panthers, or many other often perplexing
aspects of America's racial landscape cannot afford to let this
book pass them by.
*John McWhorter, author of Losing the Race*
Richly textured and throughly readable, Race Experts boldy explores
the dense thicket of contemporary racial confusions about
self-identity and color consciousness. How refreshing it is to find
a work so crammed with common sense on a topic that too often has
prompted scholarly muddle-headedness and theoretical overkill.
Joining the trenchant work of Orlando Patterson and Darly Scott,
Race Experts should draw wide acclaim.
*Bertram Wyatt-Brown, author of The Shaping of Southern
Culture*
In this insightful and troubling book, Lasch-Quinn explores the
subtle and not so subtle ways in which the reification of race is
perpetuated, despite the absence of biological evidence for the
existence of race itself and even in the name of fighting
racism.
*David Noble, author of America by Design*
Race Experts is an important book, which should be read by every
corporate leader, every educator, and every parent. Lasch-Quinn
explains carefully and quietly how the idealistic goals of the
civil rights movement have been displaced by misguided 'therapies'
that promote racial divisiveness and narcissism, which harm all of
us.
*Diane Ravitch*
Race Experts is the first book to link together America's two
favorite conversations, the one about self-help and the one about
race. There is enough sloppy thinking and posturing on both
subjects to make this book an effective and necessary one.
*The New York Times Book Review*
Elisabeth Lasch-Quinn argues quite convincingly that
multiculturalism and ethnic diversity programs might instead breed
contempt for and condescending behavior toward blacks. Race Experts
is a scathing indictment of the new politically correct thinking on
race.
*The Washington Times*
An original and impressive presentation that does much to
illuminate the current racial situation.
*Kirkus*
This is sure to be a controversial book among readers interested in
race issues.
*Booklist*
Elisabeth Lasch-Quinn offers an unflinching look at the elaborate
codes that govern racial exchanges and relations and at the
entrenched 'experts' who purport to know more than ordinary
citizens about how men and women are to comport themselves across
lines of racial division. Crisply written, forthright, replete with
vivid examples, Race Experts helps to break open a long overdue
debate.
*Jean Bethke Elshtain, The Laura Spelman Rockeller Professor of
Social and Political Ethics, University of Chicago; author of Just
War Against Terror*
Elisabeth Lasch-Quinn's thought provoking book brilliantly
critiques the industry of the race advocates who tend to exaggerate
the importance of racial differences. This is a book that dedicated
proponents of social justice have been waiting for. It could even
help us refocus our energies on fighting poverty and
inequality.
*William Julius Wilson, Lewis P. and Linda L. Geyser University
Professor, Harvard University*
In measured but rigorously critical tones, she excoriates the
theory and politics of identity, diversity training, racially based
psychotherapy and educational politicies aimed at increasing racial
self-esteem. Thoughtful and provocative.
*Times Literary Supplement*
Convincingly and cogently argued. This is an important book for
Britain as well as America.
*Black and Asian Studies Association Newsletter*
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