Both experts in government and history, Klinkner (Hamilton Coll.;
The Losing Parties, not reviewed) and Smith (Yale; Civic Ideals,
not reviewed) mean to "sound an alarm" about the still poor state
of race relations in the US. To do so, they enter into a long tale
of American history, none of its contents new, but all marshaled
for the authors' special purpose. That purpose is to demonstrate
that racial progress has occurred only with the simultaneous
existence of three conditions: 1) a war necessitating the
mobilization of African-Americans; 2) a war requiring Americans to
justify their involvement in democratic, egalitarian, and inclusive
terms; and 3) the existence of protest movements pushing the
government to institute reforms in keeping with those ideals. The
authors do not adequately consider the possibility that most
all-out American wars were as much result, not cause, of
democratic, egalitarian, and inclusive ideologies, as well as of
their day's versions of "protest movements." And what of religion?
They also admit that they cannot demonstrate that racial progress
might have come about without wars. Ironically, their very approach
could contribute to the current fatalism about progress in racial
matters that they decry. After all, if we need wars of total
mobilization to give us racial progress (and the authors don't
advocate war), then perhaps we must simply wait for one to break
out. Sensing their logical predicament, they remark that progress
can occur without war. But for that to happen, "Americans can and
should commit themselves anew to overcoming our deepest and most
enduring national division." To be sure. But historical argument
isn't necessary to make that point, especially if, as the authors
admit, they've arrived at their arguments "inductively," because,
while awaiting deductive research not yet undertaken, they believe
it urgent to get their message out. But then their answers can't be
taken as history, only as hope - albeit hope in which most people
share. A heartfelt plea for further progress, which raises as many
questions as it answers. (Kirkus Reviews)
This work aims to disprove the idea that the United States has been
on a "steady march" toward the end of racial discrimination.
Rather, progress has been made only in brief periods, under special
conditions, and it has always been followed by periods of
stagnation and retrenchment. In this history of race relations,
Philip Klinkner and Rogers Smith show that significant advances in
racial justice have occurred only when three circumstances have
converged: large-scale wars, which require extensive economic and
military mobilization of African Americans; an enemy that inspires
American leaders to advocate inclusive, egalitarian values in order
to justify the war; and domestic political organizations that are
able to pressure those leaders to follow through on their rhetoric.
Klinkner and Smith's history demonstrates that substantial progress
has not yet occurred without these factors working together, as
they did during the Revolutionary War, Civil War and Cold War eras.
With its insights into contemporary racial politics and its wealth
of historical material, this book is a controversial analysis of
race relations across two centuries. The fight for racial equality
has not been won, the authors argue, nor will it be unless one
recognizes the true factors behind progress and the extraordinary
efforts required to achieve it.
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