The Future of Race

alignment of American whiteness and democracy

American whiteness and American democracy have always been closely aligned, with restrictions on citizenship, immigration, and voting based on race.

when worry about white minority rule began

Sometime in the mid-1800s, well before Blacks, Asians, or Native Americans could become citizens.

how Southern and Eastern Europeans became white

Wars, labor shortages, and other features led to their assimilation into the broader White category.

whiteness as changeable according to Mendoza

Whiteness is neither fixed, essential, nor bounded; it can and does change depending on context.

expanding boundaries of whiteness

The process of expanding the boundaries of whiteness and co-opting key segments of the non-white population.

why white identity politics might endure

Because of (and not in spite of) the changing nature of American whiteness.

which minorities might be co-opted into whiteness

Some subsets of minority groups today are and will continue to be co-opted into whiteness, but not all members of any minority group.

why mere demographic changes won't end racial hierarchies

If given the opportunity, many minorities would probably jump at the chance of being white.

Sheth's limitation of the Racial Contract

The Racial Contract refers to a white/non-white divide within a nation, which is conceptually limiting; it needs reformulation with regard to new divisions.

non-persons in Sheth's three categories

Those without de jure legal standing: undocumented immigrants, detainees held without charges, nationals of enemy countries, who lack legal recognition and protection of human rights.

three categories in Sheth's Homeland framework

Persons, sub-persons, and non-persons.

new configuration of white supremacy according to Sheth

Membership of populations of color has become more frequent; political antagonisms between populations who might otherwise be allied.

how non-Muslims and whites have aligned

They have become part of a national imaginary of patriotic unity against perceived Muslim enemies of the Homeland.

renewal of anti-immigrant agenda involving people of color

White, Black, Latino, and Asian groups pitted against undocumented migrants appearing as mostly Latino.

changes to Americanness

Americanness (historically phenotypical or genealogical whiteness) is slowly changing to accommodate a multiracial national membership.

justification for privileging anti-racism over anti-xenophobia

In terms of national security and the need to protect the Homeland.

Homeland concept in racial contract theory

Encompasses broad hierarchies of the Racial Contract but adds dimensions of war, jingoism (extreme chauvinism with belligerent foreign policy), and patriotism.

new racial divide according to Sheth

Transcends the long-standing racial boundaries embedded in US political history; the Racial Contract does not extend neatly to white-black divides but extends in complex ways to populations of color on both sides.

multicultural white supremacy

Sheth's term for a more accurate depiction of the multipronged racial divide than traditional ideas of racial hierarchy; white supremacy now accommodates multiracial national membership.