The Black Image in the White Mind: The Debate on Afro-American Character and Destiny, 1817-1914
“A remarkably dispsionable and perceptive treatment of the complex pattern of 19th century American race-thinking…An indispensable study for all students of America culture.” —Anne C. Loveland, Civil War History“A well-researched and highly readable account of the ‘development of intellectualized racist theory and ideology’ as it evolved from the beginning of the 19th century until the end of World War I…The book is a history of ideas, but also a study of how those ideas were ‘espoused and applied by race-conscious intellectuals, pseudointellectuals, publicists, and politicians.’ An essencial holding for all undergraduate and graduate libraries.”—Library Journal“Trenchant, interesting and well-written… this volume should establish itself as indispensable and invaluable reading, as a starting point for anyone interested in America’s failure to absorb a large minority of a different color. In his ability to penetrate the surface of racist theory, his very thoughtful analysis and categorization of racist thought, with his consideration of intellectualized racism’s influence on policy, Fredrickson has provided us with a better understanding of the race problem in America.” —Robert L. Harris, Jr., Journal of Negro History