The most important concepts discussed in this book have, I think, been better covered elsewhere, such as Linda Martín Alcott's Visible Identities: Race, Gender and the Self, which Sullivan borrows heavily from. Sullivan's most cogent discussion, regarding "the white privilege of individuality," could have been expanded on at the expense of pages devoted to the dubious merits of discussing whiteness with KKK members or rehashing the sources.

It's been a while since I read Noel Ignatiev, but I don't think Sullivan's criticism that his concept of the race traitor excludes poor whites from the project of abolition is apt, and I think she's on the wrong side of the argument regarding Ignatiev's definition of antiracism, as well. Antiracism does, in fact, assume the objective existence of race.

I should have skipped this book when Sullivan mentioned the "spiritual" approach she would be taking.

Man alive, I haven't read that much theory since Laura Mulvey in college, and that was a long damn time ago. Overall, my reaction was mixed. The first chapter, on the impact of class on whites, the othering of "white trash" and the links to race was fascinating and hugely compelling. After that, though, I generally found the book less persuasive -- though consistently interesting -- and somewhat repetitive. I'm glad I read it, but in some ways wish that first chapter had been the last and not raised my expectation so high ....