Relative Races

More about the book

Exploring the complexities of racial identity, Brigitte Fielder challenges traditional genealogical notions of race by examining examples from nineteenth-century literature and culture. She illustrates how racial identities can shift through various narratives, such as the impact of interracial relationships and adoption on perceived whiteness. Fielder highlights the particular racialization of white women, linking their status to the reproduction of white supremacy. Utilizing black feminist and queer theories, she analyzes diverse literary forms to reveal alternative models of interracial kinship that defy conventional biological inheritance.