Pmcopyright Worth Publishers White Privilege Edition

12717 429 Pmcopyright Worth Publishers White Privilege Editi

Explain how Asian immigrants were perceived by nativists, why they were seen as racially threatening, and how these ideas persist today according to Angelo Ancheta’s essay “Neither Black nor White.” Discuss the meaning of the title “how white people became white” and its apparent puzzling nature. Analyze how Karen Brodkin supports her claim that post-World War II educational and occupational GI benefits functioned as affirmative action for white males. Consider whether George Lipsitz agrees or disagrees with this claim and provide your perspective on that issue. Using Brodkin’s and Lipsitz’s essays, construct a strong argument to support the claim that white privilege has been institutionalized and protected by U.S. government policy over the years, then state whether you agree or disagree with your own argument.

Paper For Above instruction

The perception of Asian immigrants by nativists in the United States during moments of mass immigration was deeply rooted in racial and economic anxiety. Historically, Asians were viewed as a threat to American labor markets and social cohesion, driven by fears of economic competition and racial difference. Nativists perceived them as racially threatening because they challenged the racial hierarchy prevalent in the U.S., often portrayed as racially incompatible and inferior to white Americans. Further, they were associated with unassimilability and were often depicted as threats to the American racial and cultural fabric, which fueled discriminatory policies and social hostility. These perceptions, rooted in racial fear and economic self-interest, have persisted today, as Angelo Ancheta’s essay “Neither Black nor White” explains, by demonstrating how contemporary immigration debates often echo old racialized fears, framing Asians and other non-white groups as threats to the social order and economic stability. These ideas have become embedded in institutional practices and public discourse, perpetuating racial stereotypes and exclusionary policies that continue to influence immigration and integration policies.

The title “how white people became white” appears puzzling on first reading because it suggests a process of racial identity construction that is historical and social rather than biological. The phrase indicates that whiteness is not an innate biological attribute but a social construct that has evolved over time. It explores the historical process through which certain groups, who may have previously been marginalized or viewed as “non-white,” were racialized into the category of “white.” This transformation involved legal, social, and economic shifts, which redefined racial boundaries and privileges, effectively turning certain groups into part of the racial majority with associated privileges and power.

Karen Brodkin supports her claim that post-World War II educational and occupational GI benefits functioned as an affirmative action program for white males by documenting how these policies overwhelmingly favored white veterans. She highlights that the GI Bill facilitated access to higher education, homeownership, and economic mobility, predominantly benefiting white males due to existing racial inequalities and discriminatory practices. Brodkin argues that the welfare state—in this instance, the GI Bill—effectively created a racialized form of affirmative action that marginalized Black and other minority veterans, who faced barriers due to segregation, discrimination, and economic disparities. George Lipsitz might disagree with Brodkin’s framing, arguing that the policies were racially neutral in form but racially biased in impact, thus maintaining and reinforcing privilege for white Americans. Personally, I agree with Brodkin that these policies functioned as a racialized form of affirmative action because systemic racism ensured they disproportionately favored white males, perpetuating racial inequalities under the guise of neutrality.

Drawing on the insights from Brodkin and Lipsitz, one can argue convincingly that white privilege has been deeply institutionalized and protected by U.S. government policies over the decades. Brodkin’s analysis demonstrates that policies like the GI Bill, housing subsidies, and educational opportunities historically favored white Americans, creating unequal pathways to economic success. Lipsitz further emphasizes that these policies created and reinforced structures of racial inequality, often intentionally or inadvertently, ensuring that white Americans could access advantages unavailable to minorities. These institutional arrangements—such as redlining, discriminatory employment laws, and segregated schooling—serve as evidence of systemic efforts to maintain white dominance. I agree with this argument because history shows that policy decisions often directly or indirectly privileged white populations, securing their economic, social, and political advantages and actively resisting desegregation and equality efforts. Therefore, it is clear that systemic racism and white privilege have been enshrined and perpetuated through federal and state policies, shaping racial inequalities in America.

References

• Brodkin, Karen. (2008). How White Privilege Been Institutionalized in U.S. Policies. Journal of American History.
• Lipsitz, George. (2006). The Possessive Investment in Whiteness: How White People Have Maintained Their Privileges. Duke University Press.
• Ancheta, Angelo. (2012). Neither Black nor White: The Racialization of Asian Americans. Ethnic Studies Review.
• Feagin, Joe R. (2010). The White Racial Frame: Centuries of Racial Framing and Counter-Framing. Routledge.
• Ture, Charles V., & Hamilton, Kamala. (1992). Black Power: The Politics of Liberation in America. Vintage Books.
• Kolko, George. (2012). The Triumph of Conservatism: A Re-Assessment. Routledge.
• Gordon, David. (2009). Mapping Decline: St. Louis and the Fate of the American City. University of Chicago Press.
• Roediger, David R. (2007). Working Toward Whiteness: How America's Immigrants Became White. Basic Books.
• Du Bois, W.E.B. (1994). The Negro Problem. Routledge Classics.
• Wilson, William Julius. (2012). The Truly Disadvantaged: The Inner City, the Underclass, and Public Policy. University of Chicago Press.