Abstract
There is a clear gap in our discourse about how the inherent racism in the United States (US) is potentially related to European racism. That gap is ironic considering that the global colonization of non-European countries by many European countries, including that of North America's Indigenous lands, was driven by racism. Thus, that historical context and the ongoing allyship, between the US and European countries, provide a firm justification regarding why the politics of White supremacy should be a part of our ongoing discourse.
Dr. Givens takes direct aim at the gap in our discourse by attempting to provide historical and current contexts to explore White supremacy and racism. The Roots of Racism is also written partly as a critique of the field of political science and its acknowledgment or lack thereof of racism. She uses a variety of strategies, including highlighting important dates, noting the differences in attitudes and behaviors by different European countries, and providing the reader with the definitions she uses to ground her arguments. Her goal for the book is to examine the history of transatlantic racism from a social science perspective, particularly that of political science, explore and highlight racism's persistence, and consider the resulting global protests that arose following the murder of George Floyd. The book's coverage spans centuries and goes as far back as the beginning of the slave trade in the 1400s and ends with the COVID-19 pandemic and the insurrection at the United States Capitol on January 6, 2021.
The book's chapters are conceptualized using various themes. The initial three chapters include definitions to ensure a common language and highlight differences in how the construct of race varies transnationally. Examples are provided regarding how religion or citizenship are sometimes used as proxies for race in conversations, decision-making, and policy creation and have caused many immigrants to experience government-sanctioned discrimination. She also proposes a new approach for studying race-related issues: comparative race theory, an extension of critical race theory. The next focus is on the impact over time of race and racism spanning pre-slavery times to the current day. Dr. Givens explores the relationship between racism and our current state of affairs in the US and Europe. The focus also expands to include the role of immigration and citizenship, their intersection with the politics of race, and the rise of unapologetic global radicalism. The remaining chapters examine contemporary issues, such as the role of policing, social movements, the COVID-19 pandemic, and provide recommendations for how to move forward and bridge racial divides.
The goals of this book are laudable. Unfortunately, it is a massive undertaking and attempted in a too succinct manner. The result is a lack of depth and fluidity in the narrative. Throughout the book, Dr. Givens seeks to bring the reader along by telling us what she intends to do in each section. However, the strategy only serves to disrupt the flow and sets expectations that are not always met. The book's focus is solely on race, thus issues that would be of interest to a reader seeking to understand them from a feminist/womanist lens would need to make these connections on their own. Because there is a paucity of information about this topic, the Roots of Racism could be a useful resource for someone seeking introductory knowledge. The information provided could serve as the first step before engaging in more in-depth after reading about the politics of racism in the US and Europe.
