Stuff White People Get

Author Tim Wise kicked up some Internet dust last week, writing about how white privilege has affected this election cycle. His ideas are perfectly primed to push everybody’s buttons about race, sex, and class during this historic year.

In keeping with his timely argument, Soft Skull has updated Wise’s 2005 book, White Like Me: Reflections on Race from a Privileged Son. Wise explains his thesis in this controversial essay:

“It pays to be a member of the dominant racial group. It doesn’t mean that a white person will get everything they want in life, or win every competition, but it does mean that there are general advantages that we receive.”

His post raises some tough questions for all American industries, including the book business. Even though the literary canon isn’t ruled by dead white men anymore, is our book culture truly integrated? If you are working in the trenches, what do you think–does white privilege influence the publishing world?

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