How the Color Line Bends

More about the book

In 2019, a group of Louisianans voted to create a new city in the Baton Rouge area, raising concerns about the formation of a predominantly White and wealthy community that would leave behind a poorer, majority-Black school district. This situation highlights the connections between geography, politics, and prejudice in American racial dynamics. The book examines how the living environments of White Americans influence their racial attitudes, challenging the notion that feelings of threat drive these perspectives. Instead, it emphasizes power, agency, and positionality in understanding prejudice and place. Through various racialized issues such as education, affirmative action, and welfare spending, alongside a detailed case study of Baton Rouge, the author reveals how White Americans' viewpoints are shaped by their surroundings. By acknowledging their racialized perspective, we gain insight into how prejudice can fluctuate based on local conditions in a diverse nation. The discussion also underscores the ongoing relevance of the "color line," illustrating its capacity to shift rather than disappear entirely.