Most of us go from day to day, not recognizing the "racial hierarchies- (vii) that are within our society. Not only has racism influenced our society in the past and present, it has shaped the generations to come. I never really thought that racism still existed in our country until I read Bill Moore's Body. This brief and emotive introduction persuaded me to delve deep into my thoughts and examine the issue of whether racism was still present in our society.
In his introduction of The Possessive Investment in Whiteness, George Lipsitz argues that the social fact that continues to take place in America is that white people have more advantages because of their "whiteness- (vii) "from education to jobs to power. What's worse is that this frame of mind is encouraged, so that America can continue to possess "resources, power, and opportunity- (vii). White people make decisions that are influenced by their "investment in whiteness- and participate in a system that takes advantage of "communities of color- (vii).
In writing this book Lipsitz hopes to pay respect to those people who fought for their rights. The author was especially impacted by the death of a 35 year old civil rights activist named Bill Moore. Moore started a one-man march and sought to "deliver a letter- to the governor of Mississippi, "expressing support for integration- (xiii). He was murdered for his beliefs. Lipsitz recognized that many people fought for equal rights, yet it was rare to have one man stand up against "white supremacy-. He felt that white people in the civil rights movement were recognized for their involvement and effort whereas African Americans were not. .
African Americans (such as Fannie Lou Hamer, and Joyce and Dorie Ladner) also tried to make a living in Mississippi but were harassed, beaten, and deprived of any privileges. The problem of racism wasn't limited to Mississippi, however. In fact, all over the country African Americans were being discriminated against.
