Race, Racism, & Reparations - by J Angelo Corlett (Paperback)

About the Book

If affirmative action and other ethnicity-based social programs are justified, then J. Angelo Corlett believes it is important to come to an adequate understanding of the nature of ethnicity in general and ethnic group membership in particular. In...

Book Synopsis

If affirmative action and other ethnicity-based social programs are justified, then J. Angelo Corlett believes it is important to come to an adequate understanding of the nature of ethnicity in general and ethnic group membership in particular. In Race, Racism, and Reparations, Corlett reconceptualizes traditional ideas of race in terms of ethnicity. As he makes clear, the answers to the questions "What is a Native American"? or "What is a Latino/a"? have important implications for public policy, especially for those programs designed to address historic injustices and economic and social imbalances among different groups in our society. Having supplanted "race" with a well-defined concept of ethnicity, the author then analyzes the nature and function of racism. Corlett argues for a notion of racism that must encompass not only racist beliefs but also racist actions, omissions, and attempted actions. His aim is to craft a definition of racism that will prove useful in legal and public policy contexts.Corlett places special emphasis on the broad questions of whether reparations for ethnic groups are desirable and what forms those reparations should take: land, money, social programs? He addresses the need for differential affirmative action programs and reparations policies--the experiences (and oppressors) of different ethnic groups vary greatly. Arguments for reparations to Native and African Americans are considered in light of a variety of objections that are or might be raised against them. Corlett articulates and critically analyzes a number of possible proposals for reparations.

Review Quotes

How should the US compensate for past racial injustices? This is the key question that J. Angelo Corlett seeks to explore in his excellent book.... Race, Racism, and Reparations provides powerful and troubling arguments for reparations for Native Americans and African-Americans that we need to integrate into our lives.... The great contribution of Corlett's book is that it helps to show that, at least for most whites in America, there are powerful arguments for giving up much of what they have.

Until now, most philosophy texts on race have focused narrowly and monochromatically on the black experience. This challenging new book broadens the traditional spectrum to include the neglected browns and reds, Latino and native American colors, of the American racial palette. The result is a much richer pictures of the moral complexities of the ethnic and racial landscape.

About the Author

J. Angelo Corlett is Professor of Philosophy and Ethics at San Diego State University. He is the author of Analyzing Social Knowledge; Responsibility and Punishment; and Terrorism: A Philosophical Analysis.