White Rage: The Unspoken Truth of Our Racial Divide by Carol Anderson

For many, the subject of race in the United States is a heavily-laden one. Carol Anderson's White Rage seeks to examine this divided nation, and addresses the lack of attention given to the effects of white supremacy, the culture created by the man-made socioeconomic inequality, and the subsequent racial hostility it has caused.

The book begins with an examination of the range of American racism, from the overt and pervasive form of segregation to the more subtle and silent discrimination of white-dominated institutions. Anderson distills this range of racism, ultimately narrowing it down and describing it as a form of rage—white rage. She describes this type of rage as a reaction to “accelerated demographic change.”

White rage has been part of the American experience for centuries and is, therefore, deeply embedded in our nation’s cultural and institutional framework. Anderson highlights key moments from the past such as southern strategies, Jim Crow laws, and disenfranchisement of Native Americans as examples of means by which white rage has been perpetuated.

Further, Anderson also draws focus on the current-day ways in which white rage has ensconced itself within the state and federal governments. From the war on drugs to the criminalization of poverty to mass incarceration, Anderson makes clear how modern day policies tend to disproportionately affect people of color. Not only that, the lack of attention and accountability payed to this historic suppression has created a culture of cynicism, apathy, and powerlessness among many people of color.

However, Anderson offers a beacon of hope. She identifies the many individuals and organizations that are dedicated to breaking down the walls of white rage through advocacy, activism, and coalition building. She furthermore makes clear how effective actioning specific steps towards systemic change can be, particularly in exhibiting that the “created” values of white supremacy and racism are not natural, intrinsic qualities of our nation, but are instead manmade and, thus, can be reshaped with diligent effort.

White Rage is an eye-opening, important work for our times. As it is impossible to understand the racial divide if its history is not understood and its effects are not felt, Anderson’s book prompts readers to take a closer look at the ways in which white supremacy has, and continues to, pervade our culture and institutions. By analyzing the past and utilizing strategies for systemic change for the future, Anderson provides readers with a much-needed roadmap for addressing America’s long-standing racial divide.