From Class to Race: Essays in White Marxism and Black Radicalism

by Charles Mills

Overview

In From Class to Race, Charles Mills maps the theoretical route that brought him to the innovative conceptual framework outlined in his academic bestseller The Racial Contract (1997). Mills argues for a new critical theory that develops the insights of the black radical political tradition. While challenging conventional interpretations of key Marxist concepts and claims, the author contends that Marxism has been "white" insofar as it has failed to recognize the centrality of race and white supremacy to the making of the modern world. By appealing to both mainstream liberal values and the structuralism traditionally associated with the left, Mills asserts that critical race theory can radicalize the mainstream Enlightenment and develop a new kind of contractarianism that deals frontally with race and other forms of social oppression rather than evading them.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780742513013
Publisher:	Rowman & Littlefield Publishers, Inc.
Publication date:	11/19/2003
Series:	New Critical Theory
Pages:	312
Product dimensions:	6.20(w) x 9.30(h) x 0.89(d)

About the Author

Charles Mills is professor of philosophy at the University of Illinois-Chicago. A specialist in Marxism, African-American philosophy, and critical race theory, he is the author of The Racial Contract (1997) and Blackness Visible (1998).

Table of Contents

Part 1 Part One: Marxism in Theory and Practice Chapter 2 "Ideology" in Marx and Engels Revisited and Revised Chapter 3 Is It Immaterial that There's a "Material" in "Historical Materialism"? Chapter 4 Marxism, "Ideology," and Moral Objectivism Chapter 5 The Moral Epistemology of Stalinism Part 6 Part Two: Race and Clas Chapter 7 Under Class Under Standings Chapter 8 European Specters Part 9 Part Three: Critical Race Theory Chapter 10 White Supremacy as Socio-Political System Chapter 11 White Supremacy and Racial Justice Chapter 12 The "Racial Contract" as Methodology

Editorial Reviews

From Class to Race makes a significant contribution to the field of critical theory in that it compels us to rethink our assumptions about Marxist terminology. Through a series of meticulously constructed arguments, Mills centralizes and re-evaluates the role of white supremacy in contemporary constructions of race and class in America. Academic and non-academic readers interested in race, class, or Marx will enjoy this unique book.

Gertrude Gonzalez de Allen

"Taking us from impeccably argued, textually based, and highly original reconsiderations of the key notions of 'ideology,' 'materialism,' and morality in Marxian thought, through a psychologically profound analysis of how decent people could have become Stalinists, and on into questions about race, racism, and social contract, Charles Mills enhances his already considerable reputation with the publication of this volume. His elegant writing style and rapier intellect make it a joy to read despite the grim reality of white supremacy that has by now come to serve as the leitmotif of his philosophical reflections."

William McBride

"Mills provides a brilliant treatment of the debate about race and class in contemporary Marxism. His insightful account of the shift by leftist scholars towards a race-centered social theory makes this book a requirement for anyone seeking a better understanding of the Marxist grounding of current research in Critical Race Theory and Whiteness Studies."

Tommy Lott

From Class to Race makes a significant contribution to the field of critical theory in that it compels us to rethink our assumptions about Marxist terminology. Through a series of meticulously constructed arguments, Mills centralizes and re-evaluates the role of white supremacy in contemporary constructions of race and class in America. Academic and non-academic readers interested in race, class, or Marx will enjoy this unique book.

"Mills provides a brilliant treatment of the debate about race and class in contemporary Marxism. His insightful account of the shift by leftist scholars towards a race-centered social theory makes this book a requirement for anyone seeking a better understanding of the Marxist grounding of current research in Critical Race Theory and Whiteness Studies."

"Taking us from impeccably argued, textually based, and highly original reconsiderations of the key notions of 'ideology, ' 'materialism, ' and morality in Marxian thought, through a psychologically profound analysis of how decent people could have become Stalinists, and on into questions about race, racism, and social contract, Charles Mills enhances his already considerable reputation with the publication of this volume. His elegant writing style and rapier intellect make it a joy to read despite the grim reality of white supremacy that has by now come to serve as the leitmotif of his philosophical reflections."

From the Publisher