부산대학교 도서관

Originally published in Contemporary Psychology: APA Review of Books, 1998, Vol 43(12), 848–850. As the editors note in their introduction to this unusual collection (see record 1997-08491-000) of writings, scholars have, in recent years, focused on previously invisible groups, and there has been change in the “single white coherent and male, heterosexual, and elite narrative” (p. 15). This book is a response to the realization that although every outgroup has been studied, analyzed, and subjected to debate, “attention to the question of whiteness as race, as privilege, as social construction” (p. vii) is noteworthy by its absence. This response to the perceived lack is a worthwhile beginning. The essays are a challenge to the social scientist and educator and they demand a transformation in thinking about race. I have given some thought to the problems of using this book for a college-level course. I give it high marks substantively, and of course one can select and augment, there are ways in which the editors and the publishers might have helped the teacher. I found the absence of an index a serious shortcoming. The next problem I had with the book has to do with references. I wanted to know more about what is current in this field, and I eagerly looked for a bibliography. There is none. Each author has their own citations and I found that not to be enough. The editing, in short, was neglectful, and users should carefully check references and footnotes. Finally, the excellent introductory chapter should have been augmented with a final one linking and coordinating these disparate contributions. This would have added to the usefulness of this important collection. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2006 APA, all rights reserved)